Hot on the heels of the news that OneWeb has struck a deal with Boeing to launch another constellation of almost 3000 satellites, and in addition to the launch of an already planned 640 satellites in its existing mega-constellation, comes news that Japan’s SoftBank is to invest an extra $500 million in OneWeb.

OneWeb is planning to circle the planet with a mega-constellation of about 640 satellites, and to start services as soon as 2019, and working in the Ku-band about 1200 kms above the Earth.  Japan’s SoftBank is a major investor in OneWeb, along with Qualcomm, Virgin Group, Intelsat, Coca-Cola and others.  Airbus is already building the fleet’s initial ‘test’ satellites.

Japanese media conglomerate SoftBank has already invested $1 billion in OneWeb, and has agreed to place a further $500 million into the satellite business. OneWeb reportedly says that SoftBank’s overall stake will remain at less than 50 per cent.

OneWeb founder says he is planning for a more powerful fleet of satellites than originally planned.

Other posts by :

1. EchoStar: “Severe uncertainty” led to spectrum sales
2. Netflix gets downgrade on Warner Bros move
3. UK trims Orbex investment
4. Euro-bank sets up €500m space fund
5. Revenue jump forecast for Eutelsat
6. Moody’s upgrades Eutelsat’s debt rating
7. Rivada Space Networks wins spectrum dispute
8. Will we take an AI bubble bath?
9. Eutelsat shareholders upset over Rights Issue

Categories: Articles, Broadband, Satellite