Satellite constellation operator OneWeb, itself in the process of merging with Eutelsat, is partnering with the massive Saudi Arabian ‘NEOM, city of the future’ currently under construction on the Gulf of Aqaba.

OneWeb last October signed a $200 million joint-venture agreement with NEOM Tec & Digital Holding Co., to bring high-speed satellite connectivity to NEOM, Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East and neighbouring East African countries. Laith Hamad, CEO of the j-v, speaking at the recent Riyadh ‘Connecting the World from the Skies’ event, outlined the scope of joint project.

The OneWeb relationship as well as providing WiFi over Saudi Arabia and specifically to the new city is also looking for backhaul satellite-based connectivity for mobile and 5G cellular usage. The antenna being used in the Kingdom is rated as being suitable for Saudi Arabia’s extremely high temperatures and handling 23 ms in latency.

Read the full story at Advanced Television