Bharti group backed OneWeb launches 34 satellites

OneWeb, the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communications company backed by Bharati has successfully deployed 34 satellites by Arianespace from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana, the company said. 

The latest launch brings OneWeb’s total in-orbit constellation to 428 satellites, said the company. It represents 66 percent of OneWeb’s planned 648 LEO satellite fleet that will deliver high-speed, low-latency global connectivity. 

“Recently, OneWeb has signed new distribution partnership agreements with several companies in the last month which includes Hughes Network Systems, Marlink, and Field Solutions Holdings to help ensure connectivity is delivered to the most inaccessible places globally,” the company said in a statement. 

“Our first launch of the year marks our significant progress in completing a truly global LEO network later in 2022. We continue to see growing demand for OneWeb’s industry-leading services as we look forward to delivering on our ambition to build robust, secure, and global access to broadband services,” said Neil Masterson, CEO, OneWeb. 

The statement informed that OneWeb’s broadband connectivity services have continued to grow across telecommunications providers, aviation and maritime markets, ISPs, and governments worldwide. 

According to the company, the liftoff of the latest launch occurred on the 10 February. OneWeb’s satellites separated from the rocket and were dispensed in nine batches over a period of 3 hours 33 minutes with signal acquisition on all 34 satellites confirmed.