Wyler behind Rwanda’s 300,000 satellite plan
November 8, 2021
By Chris Forrester
Rwanda’s ITU filing to build and launch 327,000 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) was considered by many observers to be at the very least “audacious”. Now, according to a report in the Sunday Telegraph newspaper, it has emerged that the scheme is being masterminded by Greg Wyler, a serial entrepreneur and who has also fronted LEO proposals from Google, O3b and OneWeb.
The Google system never happened, but O3b (now owned by SES) and OneWeb matured into launched systems – although without Wyler.
Wyler managed to raise $1.25 billion from Rwanda back in 2019 for OneWeb but the company subsequently went bankrupt. It has now emerged from bankruptcy although Rwanda maintains a more modest stake in the revitalised satellite operator.
Wyler has never denied his wish to stay involved in satellite activity, but some might ask whether is another venture doomed to fail. However, it was after working in Rwanda that he mooted his initial O3b scheme (back in 2007).