Greg Wyler Explained

Greg Wyler
Birth Date:12 November 1969

Gregory Thane Wyler (born 12 November 1969) is an American tech entrepreneur, engineer, and inventor. He was the founder and executive chairman of OneWeb[1] and the founder of O3b Networks.

Business ventures

Wyler spent four years developing telecommunications in Africa in rural locations. In 2003,[2] he built a local team and connected over 200 schools to the Internet, providing the first 3G and fiber connections to residences on the continent.[3] In 2006 his company Terracom acquired 99% control of Rwandatel,[4] although the government of Rwanda then bought Rwandtel back in 2007.[5] [6]

In 2007, he founded O3b Networks, Ltd.[1] The idea was first conceived in 2005 while working on a project to provide a nationwide telephone service in rural Rwanda, attempting to wire the post-war and economically shattered country.[7] O3b has launched 12 satellites, and the system provides the highest capacity and lowest latency combination of any satellites built to date.[8]

In 2012,[9] Wyler founded OneWeb with the mission of "enabling Internet access for everyone".[10]

On 1 August 2016, satellite operator SES S.A. completed the acquisition of O3b Networks.[11]

In March 2020. OneWeb entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy after failing to raise enough capital to complete the build and deployment of its satellite constellation.[12] OneWeb exited bankruptcy with new investment, but Wyler was no longer involved with the company.[13]

Wyler founded satellite communications company E-Space in 2022, to create a network of satellites providing services targeting governments and businesses.[14] [15] [16]

Awards and recognition

In 2015, Wyler received the Arthur C. Clarke award for Innovation[17] and the 2B AHEAD Innovators Award.[18] In 2017, Wyler was voted the Top Rising Star in Wireless by Fierce Wireless[19] and later that year, The Most Powerful Person in Telecommunications.[20] In 2018, he was inducted into the French Legion of Honour.[21]

Notes and References

  1. News: Winkler. Rolfe. Greg Wyler's OneWeb Satellite-Internet Company Secures Funding. 14 January 2015. 10 August 2016. Wall Street Journal.
  2. News: Nixon. Ron. 2007-07-22. Africa, Offline: Waiting for the Web (Published 2007). en-US. The New York Times. 2020-11-16. 0362-4331.
  3. News: The New Space Race: One Man's Mission to Build a Galactic Internet. Ashlee. Vance. Ashlee Vance. 22 January 2015 . bloomberg.com. 8 August 2016.
  4. Web site: Terracom acquires RwandaTel. 2005-10-18. 2015-03-31. telecompaper.com . Telecom Paper.
  5. Web site: Rwanda's Government to buy back Terracom Communications. 2015-03-31. balancingact-africa.com. Balancing Act. Issue no 365. 2021-03-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20210306180405/https://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/telecoms-en/18645/rwandas-government-to-buy-back-terracom-communications. dead.
  6. Web site: The Sales and Purchase of 100% shares of TERRACOM sarl and its 99% shares in Rwandatel S.A. August 1, 2007. March 31, 2015. rura.gov.rw . Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402171330/http://rura.gov.rw/fileadmin/docs/The_Sales_and_Purchase_of_100.pdf. April 2, 2015.
  7. News: Nixon. Ron. 2007-07-22. Africa, Offline: Waiting for the Web (Published 2007). en-US. The New York Times. 2020-11-16. 0362-4331.
  8. Web site: Greg Wyler - OneWeb - OneWorld. oneweb.world. 8 August 2016.
  9. Web site: OneWeb Announces Plans to Launch a New Satellite Constellation to Bring High-Speed Internet to Underserved Areas Around the World - Business Wire. businesswire.com. 8 August 2016.
  10. Web site: How OneWeb's Satellite Internet Could Weather Future Disasters. NBC News. 8 August 2016.
  11. Web site: SES Completes Acquisition of 100% of O3B Networks. 2020-11-16. www.spaceref.com.
  12. News: In the Eye of the Storm: Greg Wyler Breaks Cover to Talk OneWeb . Holmes . Mark . Access Intelligence . Via Satellite . 14 May 2020 . 6 March 2021.
  13. News: OneWeb sale to UK-Bharti group gets court approval. BBC News. Amos. Jonathan. 10 July 2020. 30 July 2020.
  14. News: Kelvey . Jon . OneWeb founder’s new venture aims to make satellites that fight space debris . 2 November 2022 . The Independent . 8 February 2022.
  15. News: FitzGerald . Drew . The 5G Space Race: A host of aerospace companies and startups are vying to develop satellite networks that can talk to smartphones . 5 November 2022 . Wall Street Journal . 17 Oct 2022.
  16. News: Hollinger . Peggy . Founder of OneWeb to join tech's race for space . 1 November 2022 . Financial Times . 2 February 2022.
  17. Web site: Innovator Award to Greg Wyler - The Arthur C. Clarke Foundation. clarkefoundation.org. 8 August 2016.
  18. Web site: 2b AHEAD - Greg Wyler: The new Space Race for Galactic Internet. 2b AHEAD ThinkTank. 24 May 2016. 8 August 2016 . YouTube.
  19. Web site: OneWeb's Greg Wyler voted the top Rising Star in wireless. 2020-11-16. FierceWireless. en.
  20. Web site: OneWeb's Greg Wyler voted most powerful executive in telecom for 2017. 2020-11-16. FierceWireless. en.
  21. Web site: Archived copy . 2022-02-09 . 2022-02-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220209224439/https://thinkrichbefree.com/the-shattering-comeback-of-the-enfant-terrible-of-space/ . dead .

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