OneWeb Launches 36 Satellites, Takes Total to 254 in Orbit

On Thursday, from the Soyuz Launch Complex, Vostochny Cosmodrome, a rocket took 36 more satellites belonging to Bharti-backed OneWeb. The latest launch has taken the LEO satellite operator's total constellation size to 254.

OneWeb's Five to 50

Liftoff occurred on 1st July, 6:18 PM IST. OneWeb’s satellites separated from the rocket in 9 batches over a period of 3 hours 52 minutes.

The company, with the latest launch, has said that it covers all latitudes 50th parallel upwards - a mission dubbed 'Five to 50'. This means that the OneWeb can now deliver connectivity to northern parts of the world such as the UK, Canada, Alaska, Scandinavia, Greenland and the Arctic.

The launch means that the satcom operator has now put 40% of its planned fleet in orbit. The company has said that it intends to make global service available by 2022.

To test the connectivity in the regions mentioned, it will start service demonstrations this summer. The company also said that it has secured partnerships with BT, ROCK Network, AST Group, PDI, Alaska Communications and others.

The company took to Twitter to celebrate the launch.

https://twitter.com/EutelsatOneWeb/status/1410605046006370324

Sunil Bharti Mittal, Executive Chairman, OneWeb, said, "today’s momentous milestone demonstrates that OneWeb is now a leader in LEO broadband connectivity, serving a wide range of stakeholders across the Northern Hemisphere. This fifth launch amid the unprecedented global pandemic is truly remarkable and I congratulate the management team and fellow shareholders on the success".

Bharti had recently injected another half a billion dollars in the company. With that, it also became the largest shareholder in the satcom service provider.

Neil Masterson, CEO, OneWeb, said, "this is a truly historic moment for OneWeb, the culmination of months of positive momentum in our ‘Five to 50’ programme, increased investment from our global partners and the rapid onboarding of new customers".

He further added that the company is "incredibly excited" to start delivering connectivity. First, the company will seek to cover the UK, and then the Arctic region.