1,700 Missing

Five years ago, the Ahr Valley in Germany was devastated by floods. Nearly 200 people died. Thousands of homes were destroyed. And 1,700 people were reported missing in the first hours. Not because they were actually missing. Because they had no network. The communication infrastructure went down within minutes, and for the emergency services, 1,700 people simply vanished.[1]

Omar Qaise, CEO of Luxembourg-based OQ Technology, tells the story to make a point about satellites. His company develops 5G satellite communications that can work when classic networks drop. "Our satellites can be used to establish direct communication with mobile phones", he said. "They could allow government alerts to be sent out, or in future people could even communicate directly using satellite technology."[1]

Four to six hours

OQ Technology can currently provide global communication coverage at intervals of four to six hours. Once its constellation expands to 48 satellites, those intervals will shorten, enabling more frequent connections. The company has also developed technology that enables drones to operate using 5G satellite communications.[1]

Four to six hours. In a flood, in a fire, in a heatwave where the power grid fails, four to six hours is the gap between knowing where people are and not knowing. It is the gap between 1,700 missing and 1,700 accounted for. The 48-satellite constellation will shorten that gap. The current constellation does not.[1]

Luxembourg

OQ Technology has been operating in Luxembourg since 2016. It develops its technology and manages its satellites from a local control centre. The company has been supported by the Luxembourg government, the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA), and the European Space Agency (ESA). One of its main goals is to eventually manufacture the satellites themselves in Luxembourg.[1]

The arc

Five years ago, the Sûre river flooded Echternach. Five years ago, the same river flooded Rosport-Mompach. The Ahr Valley, across the border, was worse. 200 dead. 1,700 missing, not because they were missing but because they were uncontactable. Today, the Sûre is at a record low. Today, Luxembourg has a satellite company building the technology that would have found those 1,700 people faster. Today, the CGDIS says vegetation fire risk is extremely high. Today, a Luxembourg company is developing drones that can fly on 5G satellite connections over a fire that has cut the power grid.[1]

The floods come. The heatwaves come. The rivers rise and the rivers fall and the forests burn. The question is not whether they will come. The question, as Environment Minister Wilmes said on Wednesday, is when. And the secondary question, the one the satellite company is asking, is whether you will be able to reach anyone when they do.[1]