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OneWeb

Russia threatens Starlink and OneWeb users

Reports out of Moscow state that Russia’s lower house of parliament (Duma) has legislated penalties for any citizen using Elon Musk’s Starlink or the UK/India-backed OneWeb low Earth orbiting satellite systems. Neither company currently has users in Russia. Russia is reportedly working on ‘Sphere’ (Сфера, in Russian), its own mega-constellation of satellites. But the probable […]

January 20, 2021

OneWeb raises fresh $400m

OneWeb, now out of bankruptcy, has raised $400 million (€330m) in fresh financing. Two existing – and former investors – have pitched in with the cash; $350 million comes from Japanese media giant SoftBank and an extra $50 million from Hughes Networks Systems. SoftBank was a major early investor in OneWeb, although most of that […]

January 15, 2021By Chris Forrester

OneWeb dramatically cuts satellite plan

During its bankruptcy last year, would-be satellite operator OneWeb requested permission to launch almost 48,000 satellites into orbit. That application was made in May 2020. Now, perhaps wiser heads have prevailed, and the overall number reduced dramatically by almost 85 per cent. OneWeb, in a filing this week with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has […]

January 15, 2021

Arianespace revenues flat, but busy year ahead

Arianespace carried out a total of 10 launches in 2020: three by Ariane 5, five by Soyuz and two by Vega. This was one more than in the previous year, despite the pandemic’s impact. Out of these 10 launches, seven were purely commercial. However, revenue was flat at €1.23 billion but Arianespace says it now […]

January 11, 2021By Chris Forrester

Airbus switching OneWeb production to UK?

OneWeb, the would-be broadband-by-satellite constellation backed by the UK and India, is contemplating switching its current Florida satellite production line to the UK. The Mail on Sunday reported that “executives behind OneWeb briefed civil servants” on the merits of moving satellite production from Florida to the UK. Currently satellite production takes place under a joint-venture […]

January 4, 2021By Chris Forrester

UK stays involved in European space strategy

While the Christmas Eve signature on the exit agreement between the UK and the European Union grabbed most of the headlines, the fact is that the Christmas to New Year period saw a number of other announcements made concerning future trade deals and agreements. Cynics might argue that the news had been buried by the […]

January 4, 2021

SpaceX, OneWeb receive Australian spectrum

SpaceX and OneWeb, along with other satellite and telco operators, has been granted millimetre wave spectrum in Australia by the country’s media regulator. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has issued licences in the 26GHz and 28 GHz bands to SpaceX Starlink as well as OneWeb, New Skies Satellite/SES, O3b/SES, Inmarsat, Viasat, Telstra, Optus, […]

December 22, 2020By Chris Forrester

OneWeb adds 36, faces UK criticism

There were a few tense moments immediately prior to the launch of the giant Soyuz rocket at Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome when the countdown clock went past the ‘3-2.1-Zero’ command, but a few seconds later, the engines burst into life and the 36-satellite payload for OneWeb launched. Some four hours after its 12.26pm (GMT) launch and […]

December 21, 2020By Chris Forrester

Hughes Network wins OneWeb contract

Echostar-owned Hughes Network Systems has won a $250 million contract from OneWeb to supply gateway systems and user-terminal modules for OneWeb’s LEO satellites. Hughes will develop and manufacture essential ground system technology for the new LEO constellation. In a three-year contract, Hughes will produce the gateway electronics for the OneWeb system as well as the […]

December 18, 2020

Arianespace launching 36 OneWeb satellites

Arianespace will use Russia’s ’Far East’ cosmodrome at Vostochny to launch 36 OneWeb satellites into orbit today (December 18th), at 12:26 GMT (21:26 Russia Vostochny time). Arianespace is depending on a Soyuz rocket, often called the workhorse for the frequency of its use, for its Flight ST29, and the rocket was rolled out to its […]

December 18, 2020By Chris Forrester