SES’ US Arm to Link NOAA With O3b Satellite Tech for Weather Data Distribution

SES Government Solutions will provide O3b Networks‘ satellite services and ground equipment to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency‘s National Weather Service Office in American Samoa under a one-year contract.

The SES federal market subsidiary said Monday NOAA seeks to grow its coverage for the distribution of weather forecast information outside the continental U.S. and foster wider broadband connectivity.

O3b’s “fiber in the sky” system will also support NOAA’s terrestrial network and the communications link between WSO Pago Pago in American Samoa and the Pacific NWS center in Honolulu, Hawaii.

NOAA also aims to to update its forecast models for seismic or weather phenomena and issue relevant safety warnings, SES Government Solutions said.