OneWeb satellite in orbit

OneWeb satellite in orbit

OneWeb satellite operator is a global communications company formerly known as WorldVu Satellites, Ltd. The company was formed by Greg Wyler and was originally a planned satellite constellation consisting of 648 microsatellites to provide worldwide Internet access for on individual consumers and airlines.

OneWeb’s mission was to enable affordable Internet access for everyone, connect every school on Earth and bridge the digital divide by 2027. OneWeb is building a communications network with a constellation of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, operating at 750 miles (1,200km) altitude, that will provide connectivity to billions of people around the world.

The current design of the OneWeb satellite network consists of 648 micro satellites of about 125 kg. Each satellite is capable of delivering at least 8Gbs of throughput to provide Internet access to homes and mobile platforms using its high throughput Ku-band payload. OneWeb is considering nearly quadrupling the size of the satellite constellation by adding 1,972 additional satellites that it has priority rights to.

For the financing of the satellite constellation, OneWeb raised nearly 2 billion USD in equity from shareholders with deep industry and distribution expertise, including Qualcomm, Hughes, satellite operator Intelsat, Coca-Cola, Airbus Group, Richard Branson’s Virgin Groupand the Softbank Group of Japan.

The company will be one of the world’s largest launch purchasers and reserved launch capacity from launch operators Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, Arianespace and Virgin Orbit.