An O3b satellite with solar panels deployed. Photo: Ob3

[Via Satellite 07-21-2014] O3b Networks reports that its four new Medium Earth Orbiting (MEO) satellites have begun on-orbit testing and that customers are already trialing the service. The latest four satellites, launched July 10, 2014, doubled O3b’s constellation and raised the company to the level of a global operator.

O3b has customers in East Timor, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Cook Islands and Papua New Guinea currently using its satellite services. As customers continue to trial the service, more are expect to go live over the next few weeks.

O3b is focused on providing telecom and broadband services primarily to emerging markets. The company’s next four satellites are slated to launch in early 2015.