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Eutelsat OneWeb

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Eutelsat OneWeb
Company typeDivision
IndustrySatellite Internet
Founded2012
FounderGreg Wyler
Headquarters
Paris, London, Virginia
,
France, United Kingdom, United States
Area served
Global
ProductsBroadband satellite Internet via LEO satellites
Number of employees
500 (approximate before bankruptcy layoffs)
ParentEutelsat Group

Eutelsat OneWeb operates as a division under the French corporation Eutelsat, delivering broadband satellite Internet through a network of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. With a global footprint, the company maintains offices in Paris (France), London (UK), and Virginia (US). Its satellite production is managed in Florida via Airbus OneWeb Satellites, a collaborative venture with Airbus Defence and Space.

Originally established as "WorldVu" in 2012 by entrepreneur Greg Wyler, OneWeb deployed its initial six satellites in February 2019. Facing a financial shortfall that hindered the completion of its satellite constellation, the firm filed for bankruptcy protection in March 2020. Following a corporate restructuring, it reemerged in November 2020 with major investors including Indian conglomerate Bharti Enterprises, France's Eutelsat, the UK government, and Japan's SoftBank, which retained a 12% ownership stake.

On 28 September 2023, Eutelsat finalized its merger with OneWeb, creating the unified "Eutelsat Group." This new entity comprises subsidiaries "Eutelsat" and "Eutelsat OneWeb," establishing itself as a prominent GEO-LEO satellite operator competing within the international satellite Internet sector.

History

Founded in 2012 under the name WorldVu and based in the British Channel Islands, the company's mission was to provide global broadband connectivity via satellite.

Google involvement and spectrum acquisition

In early 2014, founder Greg Wyler alongside colleagues Michael Tseytlin (engineering) and Steven Fay (finance) conceptualized an extensive constellation of up to 1,600 satellites aimed at delivering worldwide internet access. By May of that year, plans included deploying at least 20 satellites across each of 20 orbital planes to guarantee uninterrupted coverage.

By June 2014, WorldVu had secured satellite spectrum rights previously held by SkyBridge, a broadband satellite provider that had gone bankrupt in 2000.

By September 2014, the company employed around 30 personnel. Several former Google employees from the O3b Networks acquisition—such as Wyler, Brian Holz, Tseytlin, and David Bettinger—departed Google to join WorldVu Satellites Ltd., bringing with them critical radio frequency spectrum licenses essential for internet services. The company also investigated collaboration opportunities with SpaceX and Elon Musk concerning satellite internet ventures; however, no formal agreements or launch commitments were established during that year.

SpaceX collaboration and early manufacturing strategies

By November 2014, discussions between Musk and Wyler focused on establishing a manufacturing facility capable of producing large quantities of cost-effective satellites, with initial talks held in Florida and Colorado. SpaceX was anticipated to handle satellite launches. That same month, WorldVu issued a request for proposals covering 640 satellites after obtaining regulatory clearance for necessary communication frequencies.

The solicitation aimed to acquire approximately 900 small satellites for Internet service delivery—including spares—from manufacturers across Europe and the United States such as Airbus Defence and Space, Lockheed Martin, OHB SE, SSL, and Thales Alenia Space. The discussions emphasized transforming traditional aerospace contractors into high-volume producers capable of manufacturing multiple satellites monthly at costs below US$500,000 each. OneWeb planned to form a joint venture with the selected manufacturer and intended to establish a dedicated production facility for these small satellites.

Investment from Virgin Group and Qualcomm

In January 2015, OneWeb Ltd (previously known as WorldVu) obtained financial backing from Virgin Group and Qualcomm to support the development and deployment of its satellite network. The company intended to launch roughly 650 satellites, each with an approximate mass of 125 kg, into low Earth orbit at an altitude near 1,200 km.[1] Shortly thereafter, rival SpaceX unveiled its own satellite internet project, Starlink, targeting a constellation of around 4,000 satellites with operations commencing around 2020.[2]

Early reports indicated that OneWeb’s satellites weighed about 110 kg—similar in size to Skybox Imaging’s Earth observation satellites acquired by Google in 2014.[3] By 2016, estimates had increased the satellite mass range to approximately 150–200 kg.[4][5]

Agreements and capital acquisition prior to launch

In 2015, OneWeb secured $500 million in funding and finalized agreements to procure future launch services from aerospace providers Arianespace and Virgin Galactic. By June of the same year, Airbus Defence and Space was selected through a competitive bidding process to manufacture the broadband internet satellites.

By July 2016, OneWeb confirmed that its planned constellation of 700 satellites remained on track. In December 2016, the company raised an additional $1 billion from SoftBank Group plus $200 million from existing investors, bringing total investments to $1.7 billion.

In February 2017, OneWeb revealed it anticipated selling all satellite capacity by the time of launch, having already secured capacity commitments through a joint venture between Gogo and Intelsat. Founder and then-executive chairman Greg Wyler explored expanding the constellation significantly by acquiring rights to add up to 1,972 more satellites. Although a proposed merger with Intelsat was considered mid-2017, it was eventually abandoned without affecting OneWeb’s strategic direction.

Satellite production and deployment progress

The initial announcement in June 2014 described a plan for roughly half of approximately 720 satellites forming the constellation, with a quarter constituting the initial operational group at about . This initial deployment was subject to adjustment toward final orbits at either or , depending on broadband demand growth. By early 2015, OneWeb projected that first launches would not occur before 2017.

In February 2016, OneWeb disclosed intentions to establish an assembly and testing facility in Florida, aiming to complete assembly and launch most satellites by the end of 2019. This included manufacturing an additional 250 satellites weighing around 140 kg as spares.

In 2019, OneWeb created a joint venture named OneWeb Satellites with Airbus Defence and Space to produce satellites at a higher volume and reduced cost compared to Airbus’s previous projects. Production began mid-2019 at a new plant in Merritt Island, Florida, reaching a manufacturing rate of two satellites per day by January 2020.

When orbital deployment commenced in February 2019, the constellation size was finalized at 648 satellites—comprising 600 active units alongside 48 spares in orbit. The first substantial batch of satellites was launched in February 2020 following increased production capacity.

In January 2021, OneWeb updated its FCC filing to expand its Phase Two constellation plan to include up to 6,372 satellites, reflecting ambitious business growth plans and market expansion goals.

Initial Launches and Subsequent Funding

On 27 February 2019, OneWeb successfully deployed its inaugural six satellites into low Earth orbit at an altitude of 1,200 km from the Centre Spatial Guyanais in French Guiana, utilizing a Soyuz-2 rocket. That same day, the company revealed its first two customer agreements, signaling the commencement of its commercial operations. Shortly thereafter, on 18 March 2019, OneWeb secured an investment totaling US$1.25 billion from existing backers SoftBank and Qualcomm, alongside new contributors Grupo Salinas and the Government of Rwanda.

By August 2019, these six satellites had transmitted on the designated frequencies continuously for 90 days, thereby satisfying the International Telecommunication Union’s "use-it-or-lose-it" spectrum requirements. This milestone ensured OneWeb retained the rights to operate its worldwide satellite broadband service.

During February and March 2020, OneWeb launched an additional 68 satellites but temporarily halted further launches to implement a minor design update. Launch operations recommenced in May 2020.

Insolvency Proceedings

On 27 March 2020, OneWeb Global Limited along with 18 affiliated entities filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, attributing the move to financial strains caused by the COVID-19 crisis. Approximately 85% of its workforce, totaling around 500 employees, were laid off; however, the company maintained control over its active satellite constellation throughout the bankruptcy process.

A consortium led by Bharti Global and the UK Government emerged victorious in acquiring OneWeb during an auction held on 3 July 2020. The transaction was finalized in November, allowing OneWeb to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy and continue operations under new strategic management.

Emergence from Bankruptcy Protection

On 3 July 2020, Bharti Global, headed by Sunil Mittal, and the United Kingdom Government each committed US$500 million for equal ownership stakes of approximately 42% in OneWeb Global; remaining shares were held by creditors including SoftBank. The UK government obtained a golden share granting it control over future ownership changes. The restructuring plan received approval from the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York on 10 July 2020, with completion occurring in November 2020 to facilitate OneWeb’s Chapter 11 exit.

In July 2020, Hughes Network Systems contributed US$50 million to the investor consortium. Concurrently, the UK government announced intentions to adapt OneWeb’s satellite assets for its own Global Navigation Satellite System initiatives.

Following these developments, Sam Beckett, a senior official at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), voiced concerns regarding potential risks to public funds. Despite this, BEIS minister Alok Sharma authorized proceeding with the acquisition bid.

On 21 September 2020, OneWeb disclosed a contract with Arianespace to recommence satellite deployments starting December 2020.

Leadership Change and Increased Launch Activity

In November 2020, Neil Masterson—previously Chief Operating Officer at Thomson Reuters—was appointed as OneWeb’s new Chief Executive Officer. On 17 December 2020, the company launched an additional batch of 36 satellites and announced intentions to expedite launch cadence throughout 2021 to achieve deployment of the full constellation of 650 satellites required for global coverage by 2022.

2021

In January 2021, OneWeb secured $400 million in funding from SoftBank and Hughes Network Systems, elevating its total capital to $1.4 billion. This amount was sufficient to support the deployment of its initial generation of 648 satellites but fell short of covering the full constellation rollout planned for mid-2022. Chairman Sunil Mittal projected that an extra $1 billion would be required but anticipated no challenges in obtaining these funds.

April 2021 marked the launch of OneWeb’s sixth satellite batch, consisting of 36 units, increasing the total satellites in orbit to 182. During the same month, Eutelsat invested £400 million to acquire a 24% equity share, which was later reduced to 19.3% following Bharti Global’s increased investment in June.

In May, OneWeb expanded by acquiring TrustComm, a U.S.-based managed satellite communications firm, thereby establishing OneWeb Technologies as its government distribution arm. The seventh satellite launch in May raised the fleet size to 218, positioning OneWeb as the second-largest satellite operator after Starlink, which had approximately 1,700 satellites by the end of the year.

Bharti Global further increased its investment by $500 million in June, boosting its ownership stake to 38.6%. In August, South Korea’s Hanwha Systems contributed $300 million for an 8.8% equity interest and a seat on the board, adding expertise in dual-use defense and satellite technologies.

October saw OneWeb become a founding participant of the Indian Space Association (ISpA), aimed at promoting cooperation between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and private enterprises to advance India’s space sector.

2022 Russia controversy

In March 2022, OneWeb planned a launch of 36 satellites from Baikonur Cosmodrome shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This prompted UK calls for cancellation due to geopolitical concerns. Russia demanded guarantees that these satellites would not be used for military purposes and requested that the UK government divest its shares in OneWeb. The UK government declined these demands, resulting in the cancellation of this and subsequent Russian launches. Although OneWeb sought to negotiate retrieval of satellites stranded in Kazakhstan, it ceased efforts by March 2023 as its first-generation network neared completion. The affected satellites were insured for $50 million, and OneWeb received compensation accordingly.

SpaceX/NSIL launch services

On 21 March 2022, OneWeb entered into a launch contract with U.S.-based SpaceX to deploy remaining satellites using Falcon 9 rockets, with initial launches anticipated by summer 2022. Subsequently, on 20 April 2022, a similar agreement was reached with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), ISRO’s commercial entity. Satellites were successfully launched aboard ISRO’s LVM3 rocket on 22 October 2022 and again on 26 March 2023, utilizing a modified dispenser previously employed on Soyuz missions.

Initially contracted for three SpaceX flights, OneWeb added a fourth mission in January 2023 to launch backup satellites during summer 2023. By early March 2023, three SpaceX launches had deployed a total of 120 satellites. Overall, OneWeb had placed 584 satellites into orbit (with two nonfunctional) as of March 2023, marking substantial advancement toward establishing its global satellite network.

Merger with Eutelsat

In July 2022, OneWeb announced plans to merge with French geostationary satellite operator Eutelsat S.A. The transaction valued OneWeb at approximately US$3.4 billion (£2.8 billion), with OneWeb shareholders set to receive half of the combined company’s equity. The British government will maintain a "golden share" in OneWeb. Both French and British governments are anticipated to hold roughly 10% ownership stakes each and secure representation on the board.

Scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2023, the merged entity—named Eutelsat Group—will have its headquarters located in Paris. Dominique D’Hinnin (Eutelsat S.A chairman) and CEO Eva Berneke will continue their leadership roles while Sunil Bharti Mittal from OneWeb will assume co-chair responsibilities. Eutelsat Group will oversee Eutelsat S.A and OneWeb (rebranded as Eutelsat OneWeb) as subsidiary companies.

Bpifrance, France’s Fonds Stratégique de Participations, Hanwha Group, and the UK government will each appoint one director to the board. Additionally, OneWeb and Eutelsat S.A will have rights to appoint three and four directors respectively, shaping governance for this strategic satellite connectivity enterprise.

Completion of the constellation

OneWeb finalized its global satellite network by deploying the last batch of 36 satellites aboard an Indian LVM3 rocket on March 25, 2023.

Leap year system disruption

A service interruption lasting 48 hours occurred on December 31, 2024, when Hughes Network Systems' ground equipment software failed to properly handle the leap year transition. Service levels recovered to 80% by January 1 and were fully restored by January 2.

Target markets

As of March 2021, OneWeb focused its primary market segments on enterprises, governmental bodies including defense sectors, telecom providers, and community networks, differentiating itself from competitors like Starlink that primarily target individual consumers. Potential customers were encouraged to access services through regional telecom operators investing in local infrastructure.

OneWeb satellite network

The intended satellite constellation consists of 648 compact satellites operating in low Earth orbit (LEO) to deliver high-speed broadband connectivity to remote and underserved regions. By January 2023, OneWeb had launched 544 satellites, with 542 active in orbit; full deployment was expected by March 2023, followed by comprehensive testing ahead of commercial launch planned for Q4 2023.

Manufacturing is carried out by OneWeb Satellites, a partnership between Airbus and OneWeb. The satellites maintain circular orbits at roughly 1,200 km altitude and communicate using the Ku-band spectrum. The initial six satellites were launched via a Soyuz rocket in February 2019, with subsequent launches continuing into early 2020. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Soyuz launches ceased, leading OneWeb to transition to SpaceX Falcon 9 and Indian LVM3 launch vehicles from late 2022 onward.

First generation

The inaugural generation of OneWeb satellites weighs about , slightly under previous estimates of . The operational constellation comprises 648 satellites arranged in 12 near-polar orbital planes at an altitude of approximately 1,200 km with an inclination of 86.4°. Initial plans called for 18 planes with 49 satellites each (totaling 882 plus spares), but enhanced coverage capabilities allowed reduction to 12 planes requiring 588 satellites plus reserves.

These satellites do not feature inter-satellite communication links; thus, connectivity relies on proximity to gateway ground stations. By 2023, the final constellation is expected to include fewer than 1,000 satellites, with potential acquisitions of next-generation models anticipated around .

User-facing services utilize the Ku-band frequency range, while satellite-to-ground station communications operate over the Ka-band. The satellite architecture adheres to orbital debris mitigation policies, ensuring deorbiting within 25 years after mission completion.

Launch history

On February 27, 2019, OneWeb initiated deployment by launching six first-generation satellites—part of a planned total of 648 (600 active plus 48 spares)—into low Earth orbit from the Guiana Space Centre aboard a Russian Soyuz ST-B rocket.

Launch sequence

OneWeb targeted monthly launches starting January 2020; however, the first launch was postponed until early February that year. Financial restructuring delayed the fourth launch until December 18, 2020. Since then, multiple launches have taken place from Vostochny (5), Kourou (1), Baikonur (3), Sriharikota (2), and Cape Canaveral (4), with the most recent occurring on October 20, 2024. These missions have expanded OneWeb’s operational satellite fleet to 652 units (with two failures), completing the intended deployment and positioning the company as operator of the world’s second-largest satellite constellation. This network supports active use of the Generation 1 constellation. The latest mission also included "Joeysat," a demonstration satellite representing second-generation technology trials.

Generation 1 satellites

-"20" -"20 October 2024" -"SLC-4E" -"Vandenberg Space Force Base, USA" -"Falcon 9 Block 5" -"Template:Flagicon\ SpaceX" -"20" -"Template:Success"
Flight No. Date/Time (UTC) Launch complex Launch site Launch vehicle Launch agency Number deployed Outcome
1 27 February 2019 Soyuz Launch Complex Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana, France Soyuz ST-B / Fregat-MT Russia Roscosmos 6 (test satellites) Template:Success
2 6 February 2020 Site 31 Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan Soyuz 2.1b / Fregat-M Russia Roscosmos 34 (initial operational batch) Template:Success
3 21 March 2020 Site 31 Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan Soyuz 2.1b / Fregat-M Russia Roscosmos 34 Template:Success
4 18 December 2020 Site 1S Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia Soyuz 2.1b / Fregat-M Russia Roscosmos 36 Template:Success
5 25 March 2021 Site 1S Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia Soyuz 2.1b / Fregat-M Russia Roscosmos 36 Template:Success
6 25 April 2021 Site 1S Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia Soyuz 2.1b / Fregat-M Russia Roscosmos 36 Template:Success
7 28 May 2021 Site 1S Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia Soyuz 2.1b / Fregat-M Russia Roscosmos 36 Template:Success
8 1 July 2021 Site 1S Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia Soyuz 2.1b / Fregat-M Russia Roscosmos 36 Template:Success
"9" "21 August 2021" "Site 31" "Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan" "Soyuz 2.1b / Fregat-M" "Template:Flagicon\ Roscosmos" "34" "Template:Success"
"10" "14 September 2021" "Site 31" "Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan" "Soyuz 2.1b / Fregat-M" "Template:Flagicon\ Roscosmos" "34" "Template:Success"
"11" "14 October 2021" "Site 1S" "Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia" "Soyuz 2.1b / Fregat-M" "Template:Flagicon\ Roscosmos" "36" "Template:Success"
"12" "27 December 2021" "Site 31" "Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan" "Soyuz 2.1b / Fregat-M" "Template:Flagicon\ Roscosmos" "36" "Template:Success"
"13" "10 February 2022" "Soyuz Launch Complex" "Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana, France" "Soyuz ST-B / Fregat-MT" "Template:Flagicon\ Roscosmos" "34" "Template:Success"
"14" "22 October 2022" "Second Launch Pad" "Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India" "LVM3" "Template:Flagicon\ NewSpace India Limited" "36" "Template:Success"
"15" "8 December 2022" "LC-39A" "Kennedy Space Center, USA" "Falcon 9 Block 5" "Template:Flagicon\ SpaceX" "40" "Template:Success"
"16" "10 January 2023" "SLC-40" "Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, USA" "Falcon 9 Block 5" "Template:Flagicon\ SpaceX" "40" "Template:Success"
"17" "9 March 2023" "SLC-40" "Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, USA" "Falcon 9 Block 5" "Template:Flagicon\ SpaceX" "40" "Template:Success"
"18" "26 March 2023" "SLP" "Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India" "LVM3" "Template:Flagicon\ ISRO" "36" "Template:Success"

Total number of operational satellites stands at 652 as of October 20, 2024.

Generation 2 satellites

Flight Number Date/Time (UTC) Launch Complex Launch Location Launch Vehicle Launch Provider Satellites Deployed Result
19 20 May 2023 SLC-4E Vandenberg Space Force Base, Santa Barbara, California, USA Falcon 9 Block 5 United States SpaceX 16, including the Joeysat experimental satellite Template:Success

Active internet services

By May 2021, OneWeb had deployed a constellation consisting of 218 satellites, with an additional 36 planned for launch in July. Their initial service areas focused on northern territories such as the United Kingdom, Alaska, Northern Europe, and Canada by the end of that year.

The full deployment of OneWeb’s network, designed to include 648 satellites, was projected for late 2022 to achieve worldwide internet coverage. However, delays in launches caused by Roscosmos postponed the network’s completion until mid-2023, following three successful launches early that year.

As of June 2023, OneWeb’s coverage extended across most parts of Europe and the United States. Full global service was anticipated by the end of the year once satellite positioning and ground station infrastructure were finalized. Regulatory clearance in Morocco is expected by 2025 as of November 2024.

End-of-life management

With a growing number of satellites populating the congested low Earth orbit, effective end-of-life satellite handling has become crucial. There are ongoing apprehensions regarding the exacerbation of the existing space debris issue.

Unlike competitor Starlink satellites, which operate at lower altitudes and naturally deorbit within approximately five years, OneWeb satellites function at higher orbital altitudes. They are equipped with onboard propellant specifically reserved for controlled deorbiting upon mission completion. Additionally, these satellites include an Altius DogTag magnetic grappling device that allows other spacecraft to adjust their orbits if necessary. Although commercial active debris removal services remain unavailable, OneWeb’s risk of contributing to space debris is assessed below 0.01, aligning with NASA Technical Standards.

Potential interference with terrestrial transceivers

Satellite operator ABS has voiced concerns regarding possible electromagnetic interference caused by OneWeb’s satellite network affecting Earth-based transceiver operations.

Security issues raised by Russia

In 2018, Vladimir Sadovnikov from the Federal Security Service (FSB) opposed OneWeb’s provision of coverage over Russian territory, citing espionage threats. The Ministry for Digital Development and Communications had previously denied OneWeb’s application for frequency band usage on legal grounds. Furthermore, the FSB advocated for more stringent controls over satellite internet equipment deployed within Russia.

Competition

As of January 2024, OneWeb’s principal rival remains SpaceX’s Starlink constellation, which serves over two million users globally. While OneWeb focuses on partnerships exclusively with telecommunications companies, SpaceX aims directly at individual consumers.

Other competitors developing smaller and more affordable satellites include Nevada-based Sierra Nevada Corp. and UK-based Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd.. Amazon entered this sector in April 2019 through its Project Kuiper, planning a constellation of up to 3,236 satellites over the next ten years. This project complements Amazon’s extensive infrastructure comprising twelve satellite ground stations managed under its AWS Ground Station division.

Historically, satellite internet initiatives have encountered significant challenges due to high operational costs and limited market adoption. Notable examples include bankruptcy filings by Iridium SSC in 1999 and Globalstar in 2002, as well as the cessation of construction activities by Teledesic in the same year.

See also

External links

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