NEWS & EVENTS

Methera forms strategic partnerships and receives multi-million pound grant support from the UK and European Space agencies to drive development of an innovative AI-powered “Engine for Space Data Analysis” (ESPADA). This advanced programme is designed to meet the growing need to safeguard our planet and critical space infrastructure, setting new standards for space data management and security. Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, 2 December 2024 – Methera Global Communications (Methera), an innovative UK satellite operator launching a multifunctional MEO constellation in 2027, have partnered with Oxford Dynamics, Kratos Communications, 3S Northumbria, Global Invacom and the Satellite Applications Catapult, to create an infrastructure for the rapid development, prototyping and introduction into service of novel MEO based space capabilities. ESPADA is the design and development of the space and ground-based systems to enable the dynamic collection, analysis and delivery of actionable insights/intelligence primarily utilising the Methera System and its unique MEO multifunctional constellation for Space Domain Awareness (SDA), Satellite Interference Management, Geolocation, and innovative payload hosting. Methera’s ESPADA project commenced in late 2023 and has been awarded multi-million pound funding from the UK Space Agency through a European Space Agency Pioneer Partnership Project (part of the ARTES Partner Programme) in October 2024, allowing the development to commence with a target for completion and operational launch in late 2027. The Methera MEO constellation will deploy up to 128 satellites, ensuring reliable, high-capacity density, ultrafast connectivity, with a unique positioning to access information across all orbits, supported by its advanced low-cost user terminals and a global network. Methera’s constellation altitude in inclined Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) at 19,500km makes it uniquely positioned to provide SDA services, monitoring and tracking of man-made and natural objects (such as space debris), as well as satellite activity across GEO, MEO and LEO. Methera’s ESPADA will also play a key role in supporting its partnership with Kythera Space Solutions to develop a Space Observation Network (SON), bringing together research and development from both sides of the Atlantic to deliver actionable, real-time intelligence to significantly improve the protection of space assets and national critical infrastructures. “We are delighted by the support received from the UK and European Space Agencies as well as our partners for this exciting opportunity to develop an AI-powered Engine that will utilise our unique MEO positioning to harness intelligent data to support sustainable development goals, protect critical infrastructures and our planet,” said Chris McIntosh, CEO, Methera. “The UK has a strong heritage of innovation in satellite technologies that deliver connectivity and provide vital services to people, businesses, and governments around the world. Methera’s ESPADA project has significant potential to improve data management in space and provide reliable information that can help protect satellites from threats like debris. By investing in such projects, together with ESA and other partners, we will continue to push the boundaries of technology, bring the benefits of satellite communications to people, and help keep space sustainable for future generations,” said Henny Sands, Head of Telecommunications, UK Space Agency. “ESA is proud to support Methera's development of ESPADA as a Pioneer Partnership Project within the ARTES programme. This AI-powered engine, coupled with their unique MEO constellation, will significantly enhance European space domain awareness capabilities and help safeguard critical space infrastructure. It's a great example of how strategic partnerships can drive forward the next generation of space data management,” said Clive Edwards, ESA Pioneer Implementation Manager.

Oxfordshire, United Kingdom and Bethesda, MD United States, 14 March 2024 – Methera Global Communications (Methera), an innovative UK satellite operator who begins launching a new multifunctional MEO constellation in 2027, and Kythera Space Solutions (Kythera), the leader in dynamic management systems for next-generation payloads and SATCOM networks, have partnered to deliver advanced broadband and space domain awareness services. This partnership leverages Kythera’s Operating System (KOS) to manage and optimize Methera’s constellation of sophisticated satellites, enabling Methera to deliver a wide range of advanced services. The Methera MEO constellation promises reliable, high-capacity density (bandwidth delivered per km2) broadband to transient and underserved markets; including Governments and Corporations. By leveraging Methera’s Low-Cost User Terminal and Community Cluster Technology, along with the Kythera Operating System for dynamic resource management and SATCOM network optimization, Methera will provide dynamic broadband services, supporting both fixed and mobile users whilst mitigating interference and adverse events to ensure the highest quality service at all times. The Methera-Kythera partnership also means that Methera will become a conduit for seamless integration with services from complementary satellite operators in any orbit, uniquely supporting a new model of global satellite broadband that fully supports interoperability and the ubiquitous delivery of satellite services, powered by KOS. Beyond broadband, Methera’s constellation altitude in inclined MEO orbits make it uniquely positioned to provide Space Domain Awareness (SDA) services, monitoring human-made and natural objects such as space debris and satellite activity in LEO and GEO orbits. Together, Methera and Kythera are partnering to advance the state of the art in SDA, bringing together research and development from both sides of the Atlantic to deliver actionable, real-time intelligence to significantly improve the protection of space assets and national critical infrastructures. Chris McIntosh, Methera’s CEO said, “This is an exciting opportunity to develop a strategic technology partnership that combines the complementary expertise, knowledge and intellectual property rights of both companies. We have been extremely impressed with the flexibility, dynamism, and scope of Kythera’s OS capabilities, as well as their expertise in next-gen satellite systems, and see great value in partnering during this key stage of Methera’s growth and development.” Jeff Freedman, Kythera’s CEO said, “Methera’s vision to provide multifunctional satellite services that encompass both broadband SATCOM service and SDA is unique in the industry. We are extremely excited at the opportunity to bring Kythera’s expertise and technology to bear to help make Methera’s groundbreaking vision a reality." About Methera: Methera is a pioneering UK based company with the vision to address the expanding, worldwide demand for satellite broadband connectivity and Space Domain Awareness in alignment with terrestrial and emerging communication infrastructures. Leveraging satellites in Medium Earth Orbit, Methera is poised to enhance global connectivity and the protection of national infrastructures and space assets by concentrating on transient and difficult to reach targets and areas of interest. Methera Global Communication is headquartered in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. For more information, visit: www.metheraglobal.com Contact Methera Global Communications: Greg Wieczorek wieczorek.greg@metheraglobal.com About Kythera: Kythera Space Solutions is the leading provider of dynamic management systems for next generation satellite payloads and networks. Kythera’s software solutions manage and optimize your satellite resources along with your ground-based assets, providing fully autonomous, real-time space network provisioning and operations that take full advantage of today’s flexible, high-throughput satellites. The Kythera Operating System (KOS) is the emerging industry standard for powering dynamic, autonomous SATCOM. Kythera Space Solutions is headquartered in Bethesda, MD, USA. For more information, please visit: www.kythera.space. Contact Kythera Space Solutions: Andy Musliner amusliner@kythera.space https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7173972413393690626/

Methera is delighted to announce, in conjunction with the European, UK and Norwegian space agencies (UKSA, ESA and NOSA), the receipt of a €6.5m grant towards a major and innovative programme to develop a family of low-cost satellite user terminals. This initiative will directly support the Methera constellation and other MEO, GEO and LEO systems. It will not only make Broadband Internet more accessible for all but also enable more innovative service opportunities through major cost, performance and availability improvements. Methera has partnered with Global Invacom Ltd, Riverbeck Ltd and TSAT AS to create a strong and experienced consortium to design, develop and deliver the system. The project will support the growth of a number of UK companies including those directly involved in the project and through the supply chain that will be created once the product goes to market.    Chris McIntosh, CEO Methera said: “Access to affordable and high-speed broadband connectivity anytime and anywhere in the world is a key Methera tenet; dramatically reducing terminal costs is therefore essential to deliver significant competitive and performance benefits to Internet connectivity service providers and, more importantly, to the ever-increasing population who fall on the wrong side of the digital divide. “The support from ESA, the UKSA and the NOSA is a firm endorsement of our business strategy. This grant will accelerate implementation of the Methera Broadband Service and directly increase the utility of satellite broadband connectivity. In addition to the space agencies and our consortium partners, I must also thank the Seraphim Space Camp team for their excellent strategic advice and support, that directly assisted our grant application and approach.”

In medium Earth orbit, the only system providing satellite broadband today is SES Networks’ constellation of 16 O3b satellites. A British startup with its own 16-satellite constellation idea wants to change that. Methera Global Communications estimates it needs $500 million to build and launch a constellation of satellites each equipped with 40 gigabits of capacity to beam down Ka-band connectivity to highly concentrated areas. If successful, Methera will launch its first spacecraft in 2022, with service starting that same year. Chris McIntosh Methera Chris McIntosh, CEO of Methera, a startup planning a constellation of at least 16 satellites in medium Earth orbit for broadband connectivity. Credit: Methera. Chris McIntosh, Methera’s CEO, left his position as CEO of Viasat UK last June to lead Methera, joining co-founders David Gilmore from GapSat and David Robson, who, according to LinkedIn, was the head of advanced payloads for 25 years at EADS Astrium (now Airbus Defence and Space). Gilmore and Robson started Methera in 2015. The startup currently consists of 10 people and is based in Harwell with several other British startups. McIntosh describes “capacity density” as the key differentiator between his company’s proposed constellation and other emerging satellite systems. “Instead of trying to put a thin veneer of coverage around the globe, what we’re doing is looking at a small number of targets where we will put lots of capacity,” he said. Methera’s 700-kilogram satellites — the same mass as the first-generation O3b satellites — will hone capacity on extremely specific locations, targeting a small number of high-value customers, McIntosh said. Government and service provider customers will be able to “take a village or a town from no coverage to being able to provide for everyone as opposed to being able to provide for a few,” he said. If Methera can hit the cost and performance targets it anticipates, its system should be “relatively competitive with the current most advanced geostationary satellites” like those of Viasat and Hughes, according to Armand Musey, president of the consulting firm Summit Ridge Group. But positioning the satellites in medium Earth orbit means customers of Methera’s system will need advanced antennas that can track the satellites as they move relative to the Earth’s surface. “I’m not sure that there is a significant space segment cost that would offset the higher customer premise equipment,” Musey said. O3b faced the same challenge and, finding flat panel, electronically steerable antennas commercially unavailable, started service in 2014 with terminals using two dishes ensuring a constant link for uninterrupted service. McIntosh said Methera has been working for the past year on a low-cost terminal design thanks to 700,000 pounds ($912,000) of funding from Innovate UK, the British innovation agency, and 70,000 pounds from the U.K.’s National Space Technology Program. Methera is focusing initially on parabolic antennas as well, but is studying “whether there is anything clever you can do to minimize the time that it takes to do a handover,” such as using only one dish instead of two, he said. “What we believe is that things have moved on since when O3b went through that same challenge,” McIntosh said. Surrey Satellite Technology Limited, a British company specialized in building small satellites, is one of Methera’s partners, along with British telecom Arqiva, satellite equipment provider Global Invacom and consulting firm In Space Missions Ltd., according to Methera’s website. Ben Stocker, SSTL’s director of telecommunications, told SpaceNews by email that the company completed a feasibility study for the Methera constellation. “SSTL participated, as part of a wider consortium, in a [U.K. Space Agency] funded study to define a feasible mission baseline and concept of operations for the Methera Space Segment,” Stocker said. “The study successfully concluded in July 2018, with a key part of the study being to identify the main elements of the system that drive cost and schedule. SSTL continue to work closely with Methera to further optimise the Space Segment solution.” McIntosh said confirmatory work is ongoing following the study. Methera has a pending application with the U.K.’s telecom regulator Ofcom to license its low-latency satellite system, McIntosh said. The company has not applied for market access in the U.S. with the Federal Communications Commission because the U.S. is not an area of initial focus, he said. McIntosh highlighted emerging markets as Methera’s target areas. Methera doesn’t have any firm customer commitments yet, but does have signals of healthy interest through letters of intent, he said. “The biggest problem is deciding where to roll out so we can focus our energy on the ones we can take all the way to an order,” he said. By placing 16 satellites in 18,000-kilometer polar orbits — about 2,000 kilometers below the U.S. Air Force’s GPS satellites — Methera will be able to reach anywhere on Earth’s surface, he said. Methera is currently operating using funds from a seed round, and is seeking to raise a series A this year. McIntosh declined to state the company’s target for the Series A. McIntosh said Methera sees an opportunity to work with other satellite constellations by providing additional capacity in areas of interest, especially for constellations where increasing throughput in a singular location would require scaling up the entire system through multiple additional satellites.

Methera Global has been selected as one of 7 space industry start-ups by Seraphim Capital to participate in its Space Camp Mission 3 Accelerator

Meet Methera at the Space Zone on Monday 22nd July, Hall 4 Stand 4505.

Methera CEO Chris McIntosh will be presenting at Satellite 2024, 18th to 21st March, Waler E conference Center, Washington DC. Both presentations will be at the Kythera Stand see below for the details. •Unlocking the Vast Potential of MEO, Tues Mar 19th at 1:30pm, Chris McIntosh; CEO Methera •A Multipurpose MEO Constellation, Wed Mar 20th at 1:30pm, Chris Mcintosh and Andy Musliner

In an official online ceremony this week, Methera Global Communications Ltd, the UK based MEO satellite constellation start-up, and Telecommunication Consultants India Ltd, a Government of India enterprise specialising in ground segment installation and integration exchanged their signed MOU. This strategic relationship ceremony was officiated by key representatives of the UK government’s Department for International Trade. ​ The two organisations shall be working together on a variety of complex and significant projects in India, Asia and Africa over the coming months and years utilising Methera’s upcoming constellation of MEO satellites as well as existing satellite and terrestrial infrastructure. The Methera broadband system will deliver multi-Gbps wholesale Internet connectivity to targeted underserved and emerging regions of the World. Providing the highest density coverage of current and planned satellite systems, Methera can light up entire regions with much needed high speed Internet connections, aiding governments and telecom service providers to build sustainable, regional and national economic growth that will positively change lives and directly reduce the digital divide around the globe. “This is a major international partnership combining the ground segment integration expertise and longstanding experience of TCIL with our novel, dynamic and high speed satellite constellation. The potential is truly limitless. We are really excited to work together to bring new connectivity and business opportunities to India and other nations around the World.”, Chris McIntosh, CEO, Methera Global. “We see a great opportunity tying up with Methera to extend our services globally.”, “This project is very exciting and going to open up new vista and horizons for the telecom industry for years to come.” Rajiv Gupta, Chairman & Managing Director and Director (Projects), TCIL “I would like to congratulate Methera Global and TCIL on this partnership focused on exploring opportunities in both India and global markets. The UK is committed to partnering with India to seize opportunities from Space technologies for the benefit of societies. We look forward to seeing an increase in these types of partnerships developing between our two countries in 2021 and beyond.'' Niall Ahern – First Secretary, Advanced Manufacturing – Department for International Trade, India

Methera Global Communications Ltd, the UK based MEO satellite constellation that will deliver multi-Gbps wholesale Internet connectivity to targeted underserved and emerging regions of the World, is pleased to announce its new brand identity. The new brand consists of a green and blue logo representing the Earth and sky, and technology as a change for good. “This is a positive addition to the Methera story as we mature from a start-up organisation to the next level of growth and gear up for our satellite procurement and launch” explained Chris McIntosh, CEO for Methera Global. “This builds upon our growing team of experienced satellite industry professionals and our ITU filings and the market acceptance of our offering in the areas of the World that are still without any or good Internet connectivity.” “The high density coverage that we will provide can light up entire regions, aiding governments and telecom service providers to build sustainable regional and national economic growth that positively changes lives”, says McIntosh.

In medium Earth orbit, the only system providing satellite broadband today is SES Networks’ constellation of 16 O3b satellites. A British startup with its own 16-satellite constellation idea wants to change that. Methera Global Communications estimates it needs $500 million to build and launch a constellation of satellites each equipped with 40 gigabits of capacity to beam down Ka-band connectivity to highly concentrated areas. If successful, Methera will launch its first spacecraft in 2022, with service starting that same year. Chris McIntosh Methera Chris McIntosh, CEO of Methera, a startup planning a constellation of at least 16 satellites in medium Earth orbit for broadband connectivity. Credit: Methera. Chris McIntosh, Methera’s CEO, left his position as CEO of Viasat UK last June to lead Methera, joining co-founders David Gilmore from GapSat and David Robson, who, according to LinkedIn, was the head of advanced payloads for 25 years at EADS Astrium (now Airbus Defence and Space). Gilmore and Robson started Methera in 2015. The startup currently consists of 10 people and is based in Harwell with several other British startups. McIntosh describes “capacity density” as the key differentiator between his company’s proposed constellation and other emerging satellite systems. “Instead of trying to put a thin veneer of coverage around the globe, what we’re doing is looking at a small number of targets where we will put lots of capacity,” he said. Methera’s 700-kilogram satellites — the same mass as the first-generation O3b satellites — will hone capacity on extremely specific locations, targeting a small number of high-value customers, McIntosh said. Government and service provider customers will be able to “take a village or a town from no coverage to being able to provide for everyone as opposed to being able to provide for a few,” he said. If Methera can hit the cost and performance targets it anticipates, its system should be “relatively competitive with the current most advanced geostationary satellites” like those of Viasat and Hughes, according to Armand Musey, president of the consulting firm Summit Ridge Group. But positioning the satellites in medium Earth orbit means customers of Methera’s system will need advanced antennas that can track the satellites as they move relative to the Earth’s surface. “I’m not sure that there is a significant space segment cost that would offset the higher customer premise equipment,” Musey said. O3b faced the same challenge and, finding flat panel, electronically steerable antennas commercially unavailable, started service in 2014 with terminals using two dishes ensuring a constant link for uninterrupted service. McIntosh said Methera has been working for the past year on a low-cost terminal design thanks to 700,000 pounds ($912,000) of funding from Innovate UK, the British innovation agency, and 70,000 pounds from the U.K.’s National Space Technology Program. Methera is focusing initially on parabolic antennas as well, but is studying “whether there is anything clever you can do to minimize the time that it takes to do a handover,” such as using only one dish instead of two, he said. “What we believe is that things have moved on since when O3b went through that same challenge,” McIntosh said. Surrey Satellite Technology Limited, a British company specialized in building small satellites, is one of Methera’s partners, along with British telecom Arqiva, satellite equipment provider Global Invacom and consulting firm In Space Missions Ltd., according to Methera’s website. Ben Stocker, SSTL’s director of telecommunications, told SpaceNews by email that the company completed a feasibility study for the Methera constellation. “SSTL participated, as part of a wider consortium, in a [U.K. Space Agency] funded study to define a feasible mission baseline and concept of operations for the Methera Space Segment,” Stocker said. “The study successfully concluded in July 2018, with a key part of the study being to identify the main elements of the system that drive cost and schedule. SSTL continue to work closely with Methera to further optimise the Space Segment solution.” McIntosh said confirmatory work is ongoing following the study. Methera has a pending application with the U.K.’s telecom regulator Ofcom to license its low-latency satellite system, McIntosh said. The company has not applied for market access in the U.S. with the Federal Communications Commission because the U.S. is not an area of initial focus, he said. McIntosh highlighted emerging markets as Methera’s target areas. Methera doesn’t have any firm customer commitments yet, but does have signals of healthy interest through letters of intent, he said. “The biggest problem is deciding where to roll out so we can focus our energy on the ones we can take all the way to an order,” he said. By placing 16 satellites in 18,000-kilometer polar orbits — about 2,000 kilometers below the U.S. Air Force’s GPS satellites — Methera will be able to reach anywhere on Earth’s surface, he said. Methera is currently operating using funds from a seed round, and is seeking to raise a series A this year. McIntosh declined to state the company’s target for the Series A. McIntosh said Methera sees an opportunity to work with other satellite constellations by providing additional capacity in areas of interest, especially for constellations where increasing throughput in a singular location would require scaling up the entire system through multiple additional satellites.