OneWeb has successfully added another 36 satellites into orbit for its LEO broadband network, with its constellation now totalling 182 satellites.
The company says that it remains on course to launch its full global service by 2023, with a 648 LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellite fleet that will deliver connectivity to the global maritime industry and other sectors.
OneWeb says that this latest launch also means that it has reached 60% of the constellation required to enable connectivity to reach all regions north of 50 degrees latitude by June 2021. These services will cover the United Kingdom, Alaska, Northern Europe, Greenland, Iceland, the Artic Seas and Canada, and will be switched on before the end of the year.
“We’re thrilled to have successfully deployed another batch of OneWeb’s LEO satellites as we continue to rapidly build momentum towards delivering high-speed, low-latency services to the entire maritime industry. This paves the way for the global deployment of services for an eagerly awaiting maritime market in 2022,” said Carole Plessy, Head of Maritime Product Development at OneWeb.
“Reliable connectivity is at the heart of enabling maritime’s digital revolution across all sectors. We believe affordable, accessible fibre-like connectivity should be as available at sea as it is on land. By using better connectivity to unlock the greater use of data, we will enable shipping fleets, floating communities, and offshore operations to become more efficient, sustainable, and profitable.”
