Bharti-backed OneWeb, the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communications company, has launched 36 more satellites by Arianespace from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
This latest launch, and the ninth since December 2020, will bring OneWeb’s in-orbit constellation to 394 satellites and represent 60 per cent of OneWeb’s planned 648 LEO satellite fleet that will deliver high-speed, low-latency global connectivity, the company said in a statement.
“With this launch, OneWeb will have 60 per cent of its global satellite fleet in space. It is an extraordinary achievement for a company that was reborn just a year a significant step towards our promise to deliver digital transformation on a global scale through our robust, secure ago, and resilient satellite broadband network,” Sunil Bharti Mittal, OneWeb Executive Chairman, said.
With strong shareholder support, the business is now fully-funded with $2.7 billion raised since November 2020 and no debt issuance, he said adding that OneWeb continues to see growing demand for its services.
Last month, OneWeb has signed distribution partner agreements with Airbus to provide LEO services for military and governmental use in Europe as well a new Canadian-headquartered distribution partner, Network Innovations and Vocus to expand enterprise connectivity in Australia.
These agreements, along with other recent strategic partnership announcements with AT&T, Hughes Network Systems, BT, and Leonardo DRS will further OneWeb towards its goal of bringing improved digital communication services to some of the hardest to reach parts of the world, the company said.
Additionally, OneWeb acquired TrustComm this year, now OneWeb Technologies, which is focused on meeting the complex needs of government customers.
The company will enter the new year in a position of strength, as it plans to launch global service by the end of 2022 and as demand continues from telecommunications providers, aviation and maritime markets, Internet service providers, and governments worldwide for its low-latency, high-speed connectivity services to provide businesses and consumers, it added.