How the world has changed in less than a month! We thought Brexit was an issue, but in retrospect it is no more than a mild irritation. Then we faced the COVID pandemic, which was a crisis and is still ongoing, but at least we had some control over our own lives. Now, with the Russian invasion of Ukraine by Putin, we’re confronting a deadly serious situation over which we feel powerless.
I have lived my life as an optimist with my glass always half full. I am always on the hunt for the silver lining to any crisis. And indeed, there has always been a silver lining for all previous crises, and I can only hope that we will emerge from this latest crisis alive and kicking.
One of the heart-warming things that is happening is the overwhelming support for the Ukrainian refugees who have been forced to leave their homeland. The public, here in Mallorca and far beyond, are raising funds and collecting food, clothing, bedding, medicine, and other necessities to help look after these people. These actions serve as a reminder that most of the world’s population are good and kind people.
“Formentor Revisited” – e3 and Cobham SATCOM Cycling Event
On 1st April, we will be running a repeat of our 2021 Spring Cycling Event which this year is called “Formentor Revisited.” Our inaugural event last spring, the first event we were able to put on after the pandemic, was a great success with the stunning location taking most of the credit!
As per all our previous events, there is no entrance fee. We offer breakfast and lunch in Puerto Pollensa to all participants, but we do ask all entrants to raise funds from their colleagues and friends so we can give generously to Yachting Gives Back, our selected charity. YGB are now actively supporting the Ukrainian refugee crisis as well as continuing their commitment to help those in need closer to home.
Yes, the date is 1st April, but this event is no joke! Contact us if you’re interested.
Holoportation – Video Conferencing Portal to the Metaverse
What used to be science fiction is becoming science fact, and a reality in maritime circles. Joining a meeting as a hologram is no longer a fantasy. It is not only possible, but it has been tested by a ship management group in a corporate meeting in January this year.
The president and chief executive of the ship management group addressed an audience in Manila, the Philippines from offices in Limassol, Cyprus, 8,900 km away.
He appeared as a life-size, 3D hologram, in 4K resolution to demonstrate the technology. He was able to address, see and hear the people attending the event in Manila. This does require high bandwidth connectivity of 15-20Mbps.
The Manila contingent watched their CEO standing life-sized within a 2.4-m, glass-fronted computerised box. The future is already here. The equipment used is high tech but very portable and takes the whole issue of speaker contributions to business meetings and conferences to a completely different level. No need to step on a plane, and zero carbon emissions.
Each portal has built-in speakers, through which the speaker’s voice can be heard. The cameras and microphones enable the person appearing as a hologram to see the audience.
There is next to no latency or delay to the transmission when using LEO satellite connectivity or 4G&5G and the hologram is so life-like you would think the person is in the room with you. The technology enables remote face-to-face meetings with business colleagues, experts, family and friends. You can also use it to display the owner’s art NFTs when not being used for live communications.
But this is just the start, as Silicon Valley technology companies are developing more advanced virtual reality-based meeting techniques.
Contact me if you would like this on-board, as it is for real!
OneWeb LEO Constellation launch delay due to war
OneWeb is having to look for a new launch vehicle for their remaining three scheduled launches this year to complete their constellation, as they have suspended their launches with Arianespace from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. This development is likely to impact OneWeb’s plans to start commercial service.
The Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Rogozin said that the launch could not take place unless OneWeb guaranteed its satellites would not be used for military purposes, and that the United Kingdom government withdrew as a shareholder. The reply from OneWeb’s board was a resounding “No”.
Arianespace said the OneWeb launch has been postponed indefinitely, and Arianespace “will work with its partners to ensure the well-being of the goods and means currently in Baikonur.”
Roscosmos plans to keep payment for the launch, which has been paid in full. The money will remain in Russia, Rogozin said!
Kwasi Kwarteng, the UK Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, tweeted that the UK government supports OneWeb’s decision. Kwarteng responded to the demands, saying there was “no negotiation” with Russia.
Due to the limited payload capability of other launchers and geopolitical concerns, this leaves OneWeb with only Mitsubishi Heavy Industry’s HII launcher and SpaceX’s workhorse Falcon 9, but OneWeb may balk at launching with a direct broadband competitor, as the CEO of both SpaceX and Starlink is Elon Musk. I rather hope Elon Musk might help OneWeb out in the face of the Russian aggression and his response to the Ukranian government below.
Only a month ago, we never imagined there might be a war which would have an impact on the LEO market.
SpaceX sent a truckload of Starlink terminals to Ukraine
Elon Musk responded to a tweeted plea from Ukraine’s vice prime minister by sending a truckload of Starlink terminals to Ukraine amidst fears that Ukrainians could lose internet access if Russia continues its attacks on the communication infrastructure.
However, using satellite services can be dangerous in wartime, as evidenced by a history of states using satellite signals to geolocate and target enemies.
If an adversary has a specialized plane aloft, it can detect a satellite signal and home in on it. Starlink works, but anyone setting a dish up in Ukraine needs to consider it as a potential giant target.
Elon Musk himself issued a warning on Twitter, saying “Important warning: Starlink is the only non-Russian communications system still working in some parts of Ukraine, so probability of being targeted is high. Please use with caution.”
He went on to advise users in Ukraine to turn on Starlink only when needed, to place the antenna away as far away from people as possible and to place light camouflage over antenna to avoid visual detection.
Have fun and visit us at the Palma SuperYacht Village and MYBA Show.
We’re back into Show season at the end of April. From 25th to 28th we will be in Barcelona for the MYBA Show and with an overlap on one day we will also be in the Palma Show Village from 28th April to 1st May. We would be delighted to see you at either or both events.
Roger Horner
For further info on e3 VSAT and SUPER DATA
e3 systems
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