Greg Wyler

Wyler spent four years developing telecommunications in Africa in rural locations. In 2003,{{Cite news|last=Nixon|first=Ron|date=2007-07-22|title=Africa, Offline: Waiting for the Web (Published 2007)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/22/business/yourmoney/22rwanda.html|access-date=2020-11-16|issn=0362-4331}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2015-01-22/the-new-space-race-one-man-s-mission-to-build-a-galactic-internet-i58i2dp6|title=The New Space Race: One Man's Mission to Build a Galactic Internet|first=Ashlee|last=Vance|author-link=Ashlee Vance|date=22 January 2015 |publisher=bloomberg.com|access-date=8 August 2016}} In 2006 his company Terracom acquired 99% control of Rwandatel,{{Cite web|url = http://www.telecompaper.com/news/terracom-aquires-rwandatel--492025|title = Terracom acquires RwandaTel|date = 2005-10-18|accessdate = 2015-03-31|website = telecompaper.com |publisher = Telecom Paper|last = |first = }} although the government of Rwanda then bought Rwandtel back in 2007.{{Cite web|url = https://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/telecoms-en/18645/rwandas-government-to-buy-back-terracom-communications|title = Rwanda's Government to buy back Terracom Communications|date = |accessdate = 2015-03-31|website = balancingact-africa.com|publisher = Balancing Act|last = |first = |edition = Issue no 365|archive-date = 2021-03-06|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210306180405/https://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/telecoms-en/18645/rwandas-government-to-buy-back-terracom-communications|url-status = dead}}{{Cite web|url = http://rura.gov.rw/fileadmin/docs/The_Sales_and_Purchase_of_100.pdf|title = The Sales and Purchase of 100% shares of TERRACOM sarl and its 99% shares in Rwandatel S.A|date = August 1, 2007|accessdate = March 31, 2015|website = rura.gov.rw |publisher = Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150402171330/http://rura.gov.rw/fileadmin/docs/The_Sales_and_Purchase_of_100.pdf|archive-date = April 2, 2015}}

In 2007, he founded O3b Networks, Ltd. The idea{{clarify|date=August 2016}} 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.{{Cite news|last=Nixon|first=Ron|date=2007-07-22|title=Africa, Offline: Waiting for the Web (Published 2007)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/22/business/yourmoney/22rwanda.html|access-date=2020-11-16|issn=0362-4331}} O3b has launched 12 satellites.

In 2012,{{cite web|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150115005196/en/OneWeb-Announces-Plans-Launch-Satellite-Constellation-Bring|title=OneWeb Announces Plans to Launch a New Satellite Constellation to Bring High-Speed Internet to Underserved Areas Around the World - Business Wire|publisher=businesswire.com|access-date=8 August 2016}} Wyler founded OneWeb with the mission of "enabling Internet access for everyone".{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/how-onewebs-satellite-internet-could-weather-future-disasters-n324606|title=How OneWeb's Satellite Internet Could Weather Future Disasters|publisher=NBC News|access-date=8 August 2016}}

On 1 August 2016, satellite operator SES S.A. completed the acquisition of O3b Networks.{{Cite web|title=SES Completes Acquisition of 100% of O3B Networks|url=http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=49193|access-date=2020-11-16|website=www.spaceref.com}}

In March 2020. OneWeb entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy after failing to raise enough capital to complete the build and deployment of its satellite constellation.{{cite news |url=http://interactive.satellitetoday.com/via/oneweb-special-edition/in-the-eye-of-the-storm-greg-wyler-breaks-cover-to-talk-oneweb/ |title=In the Eye of the Storm: Greg Wyler Breaks Cover to Talk OneWeb |last=Holmes |first=Mark |publisher=Access Intelligence |website=Via Satellite |date=14 May 2020 |access-date=6 March 2021}} OneWeb exited bankruptcy with new investment, but Wyler was no longer involved with the company.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-53370930/|title=OneWeb sale to UK-Bharti group gets court approval|work=BBC News|last=Amos|first=Jonathan|date=10 July 2020|access-date=30 July 2020}}

Wyler founded satellite communications company E-Space in 2022, to create a network of satellites providing services targeting governments and businesses.{{cite news |last1=Kelvey |first1=Jon |title=OneWeb founder’s new venture aims to make satellites that fight space debris |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/space/oneweb-space-debris-satellites-b2009782.html |access-date=2 November 2022 |publisher=The Independent |date=8 February 2022}}{{cite news |last1=FitzGerald |first1=Drew |title=The 5G Space Race: A host of aerospace companies and startups are vying to develop satellite networks that can talk to smartphones |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/race-to-win-satellite-based-5g-smartphone-market-11665775234 |access-date=5 November 2022 |publisher=Wall Street Journal |date=17 Oct 2022}} {{cite news |last1=Hollinger |first1=Peggy |title=Founder of OneWeb to join tech's race for space |url=https://www.ft.com/content/0db57559-a8d0-4e9b-aeef-e3e7d796d635 |access-date=1 November 2022 |publisher=Financial Times |date=2 February 2022}}

In 2015, Wyler received the Arthur C. Clarke award for Innovation{{cite web|url=http://www.clarkefoundation.org/2015/11/innovator-award-to-greg-wyler/|title=Innovator Award to Greg Wyler - The Arthur C. Clarke Foundation|work=clarkefoundation.org|access-date=8 August 2016}} and the [http://www.future.consulting/ 2B AHEAD Innovators Award].{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRlmjPlnjJU|title=2b AHEAD - Greg Wyler: The new Space Race for Galactic Internet|last=2b AHEAD ThinkTank|date=24 May 2016|access-date=8 August 2016 |via=YouTube}} In 2017, Wyler was voted the Top Rising Star in Wireless by Fierce Wireless{{Cite web|title=OneWeb's Greg Wyler voted the top Rising Star in wireless|url=https://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/oneweb-s-greg-wyler-voted-top-rising-star-wireless|access-date=2020-11-16|website=FierceWireless|language=en}} and later that year, The Most Powerful Person in Telecommunications.{{Cite web|title=OneWeb's Greg Wyler voted most powerful executive in telecom for 2017|url=https://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/oneweb-s-greg-wyler-voted-most-powerful-exec-telecom-for-2017|access-date=2020-11-16|website=FierceWireless|language=en}} In 2018, he was inducted into the French Legion of Honour.{{Cite web |url=https://thinkrichbefree.com/the-shattering-comeback-of-the-enfant-terrible-of-space/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2022-02-09 |archive-date=2022-02-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209224439/https://thinkrichbefree.com/the-shattering-comeback-of-the-enfant-terrible-of-space/ |url-status=dead }}

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Category:1969 births

Category:Living people

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