Press Releases
PACIFIC DATAPORT SIGNS STRATEGIC DISTRIBUTION PARTNERSHIP WITH ONEWEB
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 4, 2021
Anchorage, AK and London, UK: With a goal of putting the Last Frontier first for broadband access, Alaska-owned Pacific Dataport signed a distribution partner agreement with OneWeb to partner on distributing connectivity services in the 49th State.
OneWeb is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communications company and Pacific Dataport will serve as a OneWeb middle mile provider that offers capacity to telecoms, schools, health clinics, and Tribal organizations. Pacific Dataport was created by Microcom, a leading supplier of satellite communication systems across Alaska. Pacific Dataport, connected by the OneWeb constellation, will be a wholesale provider while Microcom will be a consumer provider of LEO services in Alaska.
The OneWeb partnership with Pacific Dataport and Microcom will enable delivery of OneWeb’s high speed, low latency communications services across Alaska. It marks a key step in OneWeb’s preparation to commence commercial service in Alaska later this year and its commitment to bring high speed internet to the Arctic region. Together, OneWeb, Pacific Dataport and Microcom share a vision to see high-speed, low-latency, enterprise-grade connectivity services delivered across Alaska and the expansion of this partnership is another step forward in bringing that vision to reality. This agreement is about high-speed service and competitive pricing in areas that have always struggled with Internet connectivity.
After its successful launch last week, OneWeb now has 218 satellites and regular launches are planned throughout 2021. With just one more launch, OneWeb will have the satellites required to start connectivity for Alaska by the end of the year with customer demonstrations starting this summer and commercial service planned in winter 2021 through Microcom.
Pacific Dataport’s CEO, Chuck Schumann, said “Pacific Dataport’s distribution agreement with OneWeb ensures that everyone in Alaska will enjoy OneWeb LEO services as early as the end of 2021. This will build on the longstanding relationship between the two companies. It will also support Pacific Dataport customers who would like to utilize hybrid middle mile technology using both OneWeb LEO and Aurora GEO HTS satellite. Hybrid satellite middle mile allows a broadband provider to expand their network capacity or reach into new communities more affordably.”
OneWeb CEO, Neil Masterson, is ready to go in Alaska. “OneWeb has been committed to connecting Alaska from the very beginning, and importantly, to do so by partnering with Alaskans to see this dream become a reality. Pacific Dataport and Microcom have been champions of our vision and our work together continues today as we prepare our high-speed, low latency services to light up by the end of the year. With our Talkeetna ground station standing ready, OneWeb is proud to put the Last Frontier first. We look forward to bringing transformative connectivity to schools, small businesses, and many more.”
###
About Pacific Dataport Inc. - Pacific Dataport Inc. (PDI) is a satellite middle mile communications company headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska. PDI was founded “by Alaskans, for Alaskans” to enable Internet access for everyone, everywhere in Alaska. The future of rural Alaska depends on access to reliable internet service and Pacific Dataport is working with Microcom and OneWeb to make it happen. www.pacificdataport.com and www.microcom.tv
About OneWeb - OneWeb is a global communications network powered from space, headquartered in London, enabling connectivity for governments, businesses, and communities. It is implementing a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites with a network of global gateway stations and a range of user terminals to provide an affordable, fast, high-bandwidth and low-latency communications service, connected to the IoT future and a pathway to 5G for everyone, everywhere. www.oneweb.world
Contact: Pacific Dataport, Inc.
Alexander Schumann
aschumann@pacificdataport.com
M 907 264 3443
Contact: OneWeb
Katie Dowd
kdowd@oneweb.net
M 202 415 4030
Microcom and Pacific Dataport prepared to offer broadband coverage to all of Alaska this year with final OneWeb satellite launch
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1, 2021
Anchorage, AK – Alaska-owned Pacific Dataport and Microcom are excited to take the next step toward providing broadband access to all of Alaska after today’s successful launch by Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite internet company OneWeb.
The final 36 satellites that will enable service in Alaska were successfully launched this morning at 4:48 a.m. Alaska time. The OneWeb constellation will deliver service to Alaska through Pacific Dataport and Microcom, which will provide wholesale and consumer service, respectively.
“This is an exciting moment for Pacific Dataport, Microcom, and OneWeb,” said Chuck Schumann, CEO of Pacific Dataport. “We have been working for the last five years to see Alaska fully connected, and we are making substantial progress today through our partnership with OneWeb.”
The LEO satellite constellation will be able to offer high-speed and affordable internet to every business, home, and school in the state, including enterprise grade connectivity services. Customer demonstrations will begin this summer in Alaska and commercial service will be rolled out before the end of the year through Microcom.
“Soon, businesses, schools, and communities across Alaska will see the benefits of broadband-speed satellite service, and we are glad to be a part of it,” said Alexander Schumann, General Manager, Microcom.
Businesses, Tribal organizations, school districts, health care providers, or other organizations interested in a commercial service demo should contact Pacific Dataport.
###
Contact:
Alexander Schumann
aschumann@pacificdataport.com
P 907 264 3443
About Pacific Dataport Inc. – Pacific Dataport Inc. (PDI) is a satellite middle mile communications company headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska. PDI is focused on providing affordable middle mile broadband using the newest satellite technology (GEO HTS & LEO). PDI clients include telecoms (wired & wireless), health clinics, schools, libraries, governments (Tribal, local, state & federal) and Alaska Native Corporations, Villages and Tribes.www.pacificdataport.com
About Microcom – Microcom is a residential and commercial satellite broadband and television retail and installation company headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska. Microcom has been leading the way in satellite communications for over 37 and currently has thousands of customers across Alaska. Microcom looks forward to continuing its work at pushing the boundaries of satellite communications technology in Alaska and bringing broadband to all Alaskans. Microcom is a women-owned business enterprise (WBE). www.microcom.tv
Pacific Dataport Signed a Strategic Agreement Estimated at Over $5 Million with Gilat for Delivery of Ubiquitous Broadband Coverage in Alaska
Gilat’s multi-service platform will support the goal of PDI’s Aurora Network to deliver a wide range of applications to the population of Alaska
Anchorage, AK, August 2, 2021 – Pacific Dataport Inc. (PDI) signed a strategic agreement estimated at over $5 million with Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (Nasdaq: GILT, TASE: GILT), a worldwide leader in satellite networking technology, solutions and services, for delivery of ubiquitous broadband coverage in Alaska. Gilat’s SkyEdge II-c, multi-service platform, will support the goal of PDI’s Aurora Network to deliver a wide range of applications to the population of Alaska. Aurora’s first satellite, built by San Francisco satellite manufacturer and operator Astranis, will begin service in early 2022.
PDI intends to provide a true multiservice network that will serve the Alaska market with both fixed and mobility applications. The targeted fixed applications range from direct-to-home broadband service to consumers, to an assortment of enterprise applications such as backup and full-time IP data services for businesses, organizations, schools, libraries, and government. The planned mobility applications include cruise ships, fishing boats and commercial aviation.
The reliability, efficiency and features of Gilat’s SkyEdge II-c ground segment provide exciting and new opportunities for Pacific Dataport to customize applications throughout PDI’s Aurora Ka-band Network. Gilat’s platform is designed to support a wide range of vertical segments with terminals optimized for the best efficiency and performance per required application, such as broadband, enterprise, cellular backhaul, and high-speed mobility.
“After months of careful consideration and assessment of platforms on the market, Pacific Dataport selected Gilat due to its technological advancements, proven performance and global experience,” said PDI’s VP of engineering, Shawn Fitzpatrick. “We chose to work with Gilat’s team of worldwide experts in leading-edge, high-performance satellite networking technology and equipment, and are confident that the SkyEdge II-c platform will meet our flexible application requirements.”
The ground segment from Gilat will work in conjunction with a space segment by Astranis, a manufacturer and operator of small satellites. The first satellite of the Aurora system is currently in final assembly at Astranis headquarters in San Francisco, CA, and will begin service in early 2022.
About Pacific Dataport (PDI)
Pacific Dataport Inc. (PDI) is a satellite middle mile provider headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska. PDI was founded “by Alaskans, for Alaskans” to enable Internet access for everyone, everywhere in
Alaska. PDI is focused on providing affordable middle mile and last mile broadband using the newest satellite technology. PDI clients include telecoms (wired & wireless), non-profits, hospitals,
clinics, schools, libraries, governments (Tribal, local, state & federal) and Alaska Native Corporations, Villages and Tribes. PDI is currently developing the statewide Aurora Network, which
consists of launching two new GEO HTS/VHTS satellites. The first, Aurora 4A, will be operational in Q2 2022 with ~7.5 Gbps. The second, Aurora IV, will be operational in Q3 2024 with 100+ Gbps. The
Aurora Network will increase Alaska’s middle mile broadband capacity by approximately 110 Gbps and serve ~98,000 broadband users with 25X3 service. This means more affordable, high-quality broadband
for ALL Alaskans. Please visit: www.pacificdataport.com
About Astranis
Astranis is building small, low-cost telecommunications satellites to connect the four billion people who currently do not have access to the internet. Each spacecraft operates from geostationary orbit (GEO) with a next-generation design of only 400 kg, utilizing a proprietary software-defined radio payload. This unique digital payload technology allows frequency and coverage flexibility, as well as maximum use of valuable spectrum. By owning and operating its satellites and offering them to customers as a turnkey solution, Astranis is able to provide bandwidth-as-a-service and unlock previously unreachable markets. This allows Astranis to launch small, dedicated satellites for small and medium-sized countries, Fortune 500 companies, existing satellite operators, and other customers.
The company is headquartered in San Francisco with a team of over 150, including world-class engineers from SpaceX, Boeing, Skybox, Qualcomm, Apple, and Google. Astranis has raised over $350M from top Silicon Valley and growth investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Venrock, and BlackRock.