Angeline Leishman
OneWeb‘s 36 digital communications satellites have reached low-Earth orbit following their recent launch onboard an Arianespace rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
The U.K. space communications company said Monday its ninth launch in 12 months brings its planned 648-satellite LEO constellation for high-speed and low-latency global connectivity to more than 60 percent complete.
With 394 satellites already in orbit, the company plans to offer its global service by the end of 2022 to address the connectivity demands from telecommunications providers, aviation and maritime industries, internet service providers and governments.
“With more than sixty percent of our constellation now in space, the business is fully-funded and we have a growing workforce of more than 400 people,” said Neil Masterson, CEO of OneWeb.
The launch followed OneWeb’s new distribution agreements with Airbus for European military and government customers, Network Innovations for the Canadian market and Vocus for Australian clients.
