Thales Alenia Space Successfully Completes O3b Networks Preliminary Design Review for On-Time Delivery of Satellite Constellation

O3b Networks on track for deployment of MEO satellite constellation
LONDON--(Business Wire)--
O3b Networks the developer of a new fiber quality, satellite-based, global
Internet backbone announced today that they have completed a Preliminary Design
Review (PDR) of the Constellation Space Segment being built by Thales Alenia
Space for O3b Networks, LLC. Thales successfully passed the PDR by demonstrating
progress towards an on-time delivery of the O3b constellation.

O3b Networks, funded principally by Google Inc., Liberty Global, Inc. and HSBC
Principal Investments, announced in September 2008 that they will deploy the
world`s first ultra-low-latency, Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), Ka-band, fibre-speed
satellite network. By providing operators an affordable solution for
interconnecting with the global Internet, O3b Networks will significantly
improve Internet access for millions of consumers and businesses in emerging and
developing markets. Service activation is scheduled for late 2010.

The Preliminary Design Review is a Satellite industry standard process. The
Thales Alenia Space PDR was a three-day process held in Cannes, France, during
which O3b`s engineering team reviewed the space system architecture, satellite
design, payload design, and overall system performance. In addition, all
production procurement status, production facility and equipment needs, and the
assembly, integration, and test approach were also reviewed.

"Our ability to leverage heritage components places us on track for delivering
the first 8 spacecraft on time for launch in the 4th quarter of 2010," said
Blaise Jaeger, Executive Vice President Telecommunication of Thales Alenia
Space. "More than 90% of the supply chain subcontracts have been started. Our
manufacturing facilities are being ramped up for construction of the O3b
constellation."

"Thales Alenia Space`s long history with this bus design and their extensive use
of heritage components has been impressive, and will ensure that our quality,
performance, and delivery schedules are met," said Brian Holz, Director of Space
Systems for O3b Networks, LLC. "The design has moved well beyond the PDR. Our
initial constellation is capable of providing greater than 10 Gbps of bandwidth
with round trip latencies sub 130ms, which is ideal for applications such as
Internet trunking and cellular backhaul. The O3b constellation will provide a
significant advantage to network operators in emerging markets around the
globe."

About O3b Networks

O3b Networks is building a new fiber-quality,satellite-based, global Internet
backbone for telecommunications operators (telcos) and Internet service
providers (ISPs) in emerging markets. With service activation scheduled for late
2010, the O3b Networks system will combine global reach of a satellite and the
speed of a fibre-optic network. With investment and operational support from
Google Inc., Liberty Global, Inc. and HSBC Principal Investments, the O3b
Networks system will provide telcos and ISPs with a low-cost, high-speed
alternative to connect their 3G, WiMAX and fixed-line networks to the rest of
the world. This will allow billions of consumers and businesses in more than 150
countries to benefit from high-speed Internet connectivity for educational,
medical and commercial applications. O3b Networks` headquarters is in St. John,
Jersey, Channel Islands. Ground systems and technical development are managed
through its wholly owned subsidiary, O3b Networks, LLC, in Englewood, Colorado.
For more information visit www.o3bnetworks.com.

O3b Networks
Mike Serrano, 925-915-4835
mike.serrano@o3bnetworks.com

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