Australia-based Sky and Space Global (SAS) has completed construction on the hardware and operating systems of its 3 Diamonds commercial demonstration nano-satellites.

Manufacturing was completed at SAS construction partner GomSpace’s production facility in Denmark.

"We're also very happy to work with Ayecka on our prototypes that will allow any mobile device to become a satellite communicator and test the communications network our 3 Diamonds will provide."

Currently undergoing a detailed assembly, integration and verification (AIV) process, 3 Diamonds are to be launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India, aboard a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) by the second quarter of this year.

SAS has selected communications device manufacturer Ayecka Communications Systems to build prototype hotspots in order to test the satellites' network functionality and operating capabilities ahead of their launch.

Sky and Space Global CTO Meidad Pariente said: “Anyone who has participated in such projects knows that it requires a team of dedicated and professional engineers to cope with the challenges and meet the budget and schedule.

"We're also very happy to work with Ayecka on our prototypes that will allow any mobile device to become a satellite communicator and test the communications network our 3 Diamonds will provide."

The company also noted that it is planning to launch a satellite constellation as part of a pilot network, which will provide global communication infrastructure and services to the telecommunications and global transport industries. 

The first satellite constellation is to be launched aboard a LauncherOne rocket from Virgin Galactic by next year.