O3b Networks confirms that its second group of four satellites has been successfully launched from the Space Center in French Guiana. The launching was yesterday for the latest addition to its medium earth orbit constellation, which is transforming broadband connectivity to underserved populations around the world. American Samoa is currently waiting for its hookup through the American Samoa TeleComunications Authority, with its CEO, Moefauo Bill Emmsley saying, “ASTCA is targeting the end of September 2014 to cut-over services of its O3b."

O3b CEO Steve Collar said in a news release they are thrilled at the successful launch of their satellites. “They will now go through a period of in-orbit testing before being fully integrated into our network as we continue to bring customers up across the world. The exciting O3b journey continues and we are already looking forward to our third launch early next year.” (Connect to video of launch at samoanews.com)

According to the minutes for the ASCTA Board meeting last month, John Turbull from O3b was on island and he has since received a payment of $300,000 from ASTCA. According to the meeting minutes, board member Don Fuimaono pointed out that Turbull had stated, “It was an ASTCA problem as to why O3b was not operational yet.”

The ASTCA CEO was told by the board to get legal counsel to look into the O3b contract for possible action regarding another phone company in Samoa — Digicel — for their O3b program. The CEO reported to the board that he questioned Digicel O3b Network and learned that the Digicel contract was for its whole network, which is out of Fiji, and that is how they already have O3b operating in Samoa.

Samoa News staff members who were in Apia recently experienced a pleasant surprise using the Digicel O3b service there and commented on how fast it is when compared to any of the Internet services provided currently in American Samoa.

Samoa News understands over the coming months O3b will be connecting American Samoa as well as other countries to the network with the schedule dates to be announced soon.

According to a news release by O3b Networks, Arianespace, a European commercial launch service sent the satellites into a circular orbit at an altitude of 8062 km.

Lift- off of the Soyuz ST-B launcher went off as scheduled, just before 6 a.m. yesterday morning American Samoa time.

O3b, a reference to the “Other 3 billion’’ people on earth who do not have broadband access, will complete its initial constellation with yesterday’s launch, heralding the introduction of O3b’s services on a global basis.

The company, founded in 2007, is already providing services following the launch of its first four satellites in 2013, with spectacular results. The O3b system combines the global reach of satellite with the speed of a fiber‐optic network, removing the impact that satellite delay has traditionally had on the quality of satellite connections.

CEO Collar said, when they first envisioned delivering high-speed connections to the underserved populations around the world over a state-of-the-art satellite network, “We knew this was a project that could dramatically improve people’s lives.”

Said Collar, “The response that we have had from our customers so far has been emphatic. They tell us that what we are bringing to the market is game-changing and this launch will enable us to provide that same game-changing service globally.”