The Israeli company hiSky has established a UK limited
company - hiSkySat Limited – based in London, with an
R&D centre at Harwell to develop a satellite
communications network management system (NMS) and
operation centre.
The UK Space Agency provided £9 million of funding for
hiSky to develop cutting-edge space telecoms technology at
the Harwell Space Cluster, which is growing fast and
already home to more than 90 space companies.
hiSky aims to be the world’s first low-cost satellite
network operator, bringing innovative technology to voice
and data satellite communications, and leveraging existing
satellite capacity to reduce costs associated with building
and launching new satellites.
Part of the new project will integrate and develop 5G
networks into their ‘Smartellite’ satellite receiving
terminal and carry out a demonstration to show how it can
connect seamlessly between different satellites and
operators. This will help roll out the next generation of
Internet of Things technology, connecting machines and
vehicles around the world and enabling remote monitoring of
infrastructure such as power lines and wind turbines.
Science Minister said:
The UK government’s modern Industrial Strategy and
commitment to the European Space Agency are bringing
innovative companies like OneWeb, SatixFy and hiSky to
Britain.
Our world-leading universities, modern regulatory
environment, growing R&D spend and support for UK
spaceports make this a great place to build a space
business and create the high-skilled jobs of the future.
The UK Space Agency funding is allocated through the
European Space Agency (ESA). This is targeted to support
the development of hiSky’s satellite receiving terminals,
operations and management software for the devices and to
help establish hiSky as a Virtual Network Operator – a
supplier of network services using existing infrastructure
– in the UK.
Shahar Kravitz , CEO, hiSky said:
We are honored to be partners with the UK Space Agency.
It is our privilege to establish the first real low-cost
global Virtual Satellite Network and to do it in the UK.
hiSky’s cutting edge technology and solution was
developed in order to meet with the consumers needs and
can easily adjust to different satellite operators,
including forthcoming Low Earth Orbit telcoms
constellations.
The UK Space Agency and Department for International
Trade have been very supportive of our technology and our
concept from the beginning. We are grateful for the
chance given to us and look forward to grow within the
UK.
ESA is independent of the European Union and has its
European Centre for Space Applications and
Telecommunications (ECSAT) in Harwell, Oxfordshire,
reflecting the UK’s world-leading position in satellite
communications.
Magali Vaissiere, ESA Director of Telecommunications and
Integrated Applications said:
Innovation and collaboration are the keys to keeping
European industry at the forefront of the highly
competitive global market for satellite communications.
This is a great example of how partnering between the
public and private sectors can drive the development of
world-leading innovation.
Earlier this month (4 June) the government announced ambitious
plans for the UK to lead the new space age,
including further support to enable small satellite launch
and the creation of a new National Space Council to
strengthen UK space strategy.
The UK’s investment in the ESA programme for
telecommunications research and business applications
(ARTES) has helped bring world-leading companies to the UK
such as OneWeb and SatixFy.
The UK Space Agency, ESA and the Department for
International Trade have worked together to bring hiSky to
the UK.
The Harwell Space Cluster has grown by 19% over the past
year, employing 950 people in 89 organisations including
RAL Space, Oxford Space Systems and the Satellite
Applications Catapult.
