LONDON — London-based satellite communications company OneWeb announced today it will resume deployment of its low earth orbit (LEO) satellites in December 2020 as part of an amended launch contract with France’s Arianespace.
This will put OneWeb on track to complete the deployment of its full global constellation of LEO satellites by the end of 2022, says the company’s press release. OneWeb says it plans to begin commercial services above 50 degrees north latitude by the end of 2021. Initial regions will include Canada, Alaska, the U.K., Northern Europe, Greenland, Iceland and the Arctic seas.
The amended agreement with Arianespace, which remains subject to confirmation and consummation of OneWeb’s restructuring plan (following the company’s acquisition in July), will provide for 16 launches placing another 34 to 36 satellites per launch into OneWeb’s growing constellation.
The December 2020 launch will increase OneWeb’s in-orbit fleet to 110 satellites.
OneWeb Satellites, OneWeb’s joint venture with Airbus, is responsible for manufacturing the satellites and is ramping up the pace of production and execution to meet the upcoming launch schedule, says the press release.
