Project description DEENESFRITPL A precious strand of pearls around the equator Many of us can hardly remember what life was like before the era of internet connectivity and mobile devices and cringe at the thought of what would happen to our social and professional lives if we were to lose them. However, most people around the world lack access, mainly in low-income rural areas in countries along the equator. As large and expensive telecoms satellites are not an option, the EU-funded Pearls Constellation project is developing a constellation of 200 inexpensive yet sophisticated nano-satellites to service the region. The project promises to open a new world of personal and professional opportunities, benefitting both the customers and the rest of the world with whom they come in contact. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Despite broad expansion of mobile networks, coverage gaps remain due to a lack of ICT infrastructure: 0.72bn people globally still lack access to basic voice and text services, with around 3.9bn (53% of the world’s population) lacking access to the internet at 3G speeds. The majority of these uncovered populations are low income and live in rural regions of Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. Current solutions for communication service in rural areas are based on large communication satellites (3,000 kg), leading to lengthy and costly development, as well as high costs of production, launch and operation. The central challenge in reaching uncovered communities is overcoming the unfavorable cost- benefit equation related to installing an operative communication infrastructure (with launch, maintenance and operating costs), whilst providing reliable and affordable communication. With a sophisticated and revolutionary telecommunication network infrastructure leveraging nanosatellite technology, the Pearls constellation of 200 nano-satellites will provide affordable and reliable communication services anywhere within the Equatorial band. An advanced space technology, combined with a complex software infrastructure, provides a robust satellite communication platform that can be accessed at a low price and from any commercial cell phone. SAS’s goal is to provide affordable communication services and coverage to billions of people living along the equator who currently have no access to simple communication service. During the feasibility assessment, a detailed scale-up plan to the constellation of 200 nano-satellites will be set up, and a supply chain will be established, as well as plan for the launch of 200 nano-satellites will be drafted. During the second phase of project, SAS will upgrade the software, scale-up the control and management platform, and will launch 5 nano-satellites in Space. Fields of science engineering and technologymechanical engineeringmanufacturing engineeringnatural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwareengineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringsatellite technologyengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationstelecommunications networksmobile networkengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationsmobile phones Programme(s) H2020-EU.2.3. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs Main Programme H2020-EU.3. - PRIORITY 'Societal challenges H2020-EU.2.1. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies Topic(s) EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020 - SME instrument Call for proposal H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020 See other projects for this call Sub call H2020-SMEInst-2018-2020-1 Funding Scheme SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1 Coordinator SKY AND SPACE GLOBAL (UK) LIMITED Net EU contribution € 50 000,00 Address Bishopsgate 110 EC2N 4AY London United Kingdom See on map Region London Inner London — West Camden and City of London Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 21 429,00
