SES SA, a leading global space solutions company, has announced that it will provide high-capacity connectivity services to Petrobras through its O3b mPOWER satellite network to support multiple new Floating Production, Storage and Offloading systems (FPSOs) being developed in Brazil. The projects are expected to become operational over the coming years and will support Petrobras’ expanding offshore oil and gas production capacity as Brazil continues to strengthen its role in global energy markets.
FPSOs are advanced offshore production units designed to process, store, and transfer crude oil extracted from deepwater and ultra-deepwater subsea wells. These floating facilities play a critical role in large-scale offshore energy operations by enabling production in remote marine environments while offering operational flexibility and high storage capacity.
Brazil currently accounts for a significant share of offshore oil and gas projects under development globally, with Petrobras recognised as one of the world’s largest FPSO operators and a major contributor to Brazil’s overall oil and gas production. SES stated that its O3b mPOWER medium Earth orbit satellite system, operational since 2024, is specifically designed to support mission-critical applications requiring high-performance, low-latency connectivity. The network is expected to support Petrobras’ growing digitalisation initiatives and operational requirements across offshore energy assets.
The company highlighted that O3b mPOWER offers high upload throughput, dynamic bandwidth allocation, and resilient communication capabilities, enabling offshore operations to efficiently manage the large volumes of real-time data generated by modern FPSO systems.
SES said demand for high-capacity connectivity solutions within Brazil’s offshore energy industry continues to increase as operators adopt digital technologies to improve operational efficiency, predictive maintenance, safety monitoring, and remote asset management.
Ricardo La Guardia, Vice President – Latin America, SES, said the company has become an important technology partner for energy customers seeking reliable, resilient, and high-performance communications infrastructure. He added that Petrobras’ decision to deploy O3b mPOWER connectivity across new FPSOs reinforces the growing importance of medium Earth orbit satellite networks for mission-critical offshore energy operations.
SES recently strengthened its global satellite capabilities following the acquisition of Intelsat, bringing together over a century of combined industry expertise. The company operates integrated multi-orbit satellite systems and terrestrial infrastructure designed to support governments, enterprises, and industrial customers worldwide.
Petrobras stated that it continues to focus on low-cost, low-carbon offshore production while advancing sustainable development initiatives and strengthening operational efficiency across its energy portfolio. The company remains a global leader in deepwater and ultra-deepwater exploration and production technologies developed across Brazilian offshore basins.
