Eutelsat OneWeb (formerly OneWeb) is a satellite communications company aiming to bridge the digital divide by providing high-speed, low-latency broadband internet services globally via a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation. As a subsidiary of Eutelsat Group, it focuses on delivering connectivity solutions to governments, enterprises, and communities in underserved areas, as well as to the maritime and aviation sectors. Key partners include distribution partners, Airbus (through OneWeb Satellites, a joint venture for satellite manufacturing), and technology providers like Microsoft Azure and AWS for network peering.
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OneWeb plans to start regional service in 2020 with around 300 satellites and to reach global coverage in 2021 with 600 satellites.
Except for the first mission, OneWeb’s satellites will separate from their launchers at roughly 500 km altitude and use onboard electric propulsion to reach a 1,200-kilometer final orbit.
OneWeb estimates that raising satellites from 500 km to 1,200 km using onboard electric propulsion will take about four months.
Each first-generation OneWeb satellite costs $1,000,000 to produce.
OneWeb will fly satellites on the inaugural flight of Ariane 6 using the Ariane 62 configuration with two strap-on boosters, with that mission scheduled for 2020.
OneWeb secured launches, built ground stations, and established infrastructure to build two satellites a day through a joint venture with Airbus Defence and Space.
OneWeb Satellites, the joint venture of OneWeb and Airbus, built the first 10 OneWeb satellites in Toulouse, France.
The four OneWeb satellites withdrawn from the 2019-02-27 Soyuz mission could launch 2019 with Virgin Orbit.
Exploration Park hosts a Blue Origin factory for producing the New Glenn rocket and a OneWeb Satellites factory where OneWeb and Airbus will build satellites for OneWeb’s broadband constellation.
The U.K. Space Agency is providing £18,000,000to OneWeb through the U.K.'s participation in the 22-nation European Space Agency.
OneWeb’s first six satellites are scheduled to launch 2019-02-26 on an Arianespace Soyuz rocket from French Guiana.
The U.K. funding commitment to OneWeb was announced on 2019-02-18.
OneWeb’s planned second-generation satellites are intended to have at least 50 times more capacity and could expand the constellation to 1,980 satellites.
OneWeb plans to employ up to 200 people in the United Kingdom at one of the company’s business units.
Airbus is building 600 to 900 OneWeb satellites through a Florida-based joint venture called OneWeb Satellites.
The first six OneWeb satellites are set to launch on an Arianespace Soyuz from French Guiana later 2019-02.
OneWeb planned to launch its first satellites in February 2019.
Arianespace’s next launch is a Soyuz mission from French Guiana carrying the first six low-Earth-orbit broadband satellites for OneWeb, tentatively planned for 2019-02-22.
A Financial Times article reported that OneWeb’s per-satellite cost had grown to more than $1 million, exceeding an initial $500,000 target.
OneWeb’s first six satellites were scheduled to launch 2019-02-19 from French Guiana on an Arianespace-operated Soyuz.