Kymeta
Receives Commercial
Authorization from FCC and Ofcom
Kymeta Corporation has
received blanket authorization
from the FCC for commercial
distribution of 11,000 of its
KyWay™ terminals in the United
States. This is the first-ever
blanket license issued by the
FCC for an
electronically-steered,
beam-forming flat panel antenna
terminal, a significant
milestone for the satellite
communications industry
at-large. It is also the
first-ever blanket license
issued by the FCC for any
vehicle-mounted earth station
terminal. Kymeta also received
an indefinite-term, unlimited
installation commercial license
from the UK regulatory agency,
Ofcom. Kymeta KyWay terminals
will be available under these
licenses for land mobile,
maritime, and fixed IoT
applications.
The FCC’s blanket license will allow
Kymeta—the company delivering on the
promise of global, mobile
connectivity—to operate 5,000
vehicle-mounted earth stations (VMEs),
5,000 fixed IoT installations, and 1,000
maritime earth stations on vessels
(ESVs).
The implications for maritime, IoT
and the automotive industry in the
United States is significant. “This is
the first time electronically-steered,
beam-forming flat panel antenna
terminals have been given blanket
authorization by the FCC,” said Nathan
Kundtz, CEO and President of Kymeta.
“The satellite spectrum has 5,000 times
the capacity of all terrestrial
networks, and that means that connected
cars, construction sites, vessels, rail,
buses, and other traditionally
difficult-to-connect industries are now
going to have the opportunity for
uninterrupted access wherever they are,
and wherever they go.”
The company also received
authorization from Ofcom to provide
service to an unlimited number of
vehicle-mounted, shipboard and IoT
installations in the United Kingdom.
This authorization from a European
Conference of Postal and
Telecommunications Administrations
(CEPT) and Electronic Communications
Committee (ECC) member country is an
important milestone. Ofcom’s compliance
with ECC decisions regarding ESVs means
that Kymeta installations under this
authority are granted free circulation
in the 48 CEPT member countries.
“Free circulation in European waters
means one less hurdle to overcome in the
regulatory approval process,” said Håkan
Olsson, Vice President of Maritime at
Kymeta. “Ofcom and FCC approvals are
major milestones as they enable seamless
connectivity in the US, Caribbean and
Europe—the most populated areas for
satellite communication. We expect
regulatory bodies for the rest of the
world to follow suit shortly.”
Kundtz is excited about Kymeta’s
future as commercial licensing
authorizations in the US and the UK
position the company for future
approvals, taking it one step closer to
providing uninterrupted mobile satellite
communications to the world. “The
complete Kymeta solution makes
connectivity as available as the sky,”
said Kundtz. “The best way to think
about our antenna is that it’s like a
pizza box that delivers connectivity.
All you need to do is take it outside,
turn it on, and you’re connected. It’s
the magic pizza
