OneWeb partners with Musk's SpaceX to resume satellite launches, overcome challenges posed by Russia-Ukraine war

Bharti Group-backed OneWeb has entered into a global agreement with Elon Musk’s aerospace company, SpaceX, to resume launching its low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites.

“Terms of the agreement with SpaceX are confidential,” OneWeb said in an official statement Monday.

The first launch with SpaceX is anticipated in 2022 and will add to OneWeb’s total in-orbit constellation that now stands at 428 satellites, or 66% of the (targeted 648-strong) fleet, the company added.


OneWeb’s network will deliver high-speed, low-latency global connectivity.

OneWeb -- co-owned by India’s Bharti Group and the UK government -- had recently suspended LEO satellite launches from a key cosmodrome in Kazakhstan amid the continuing Russia-Ukraine war. Subsequently, OneWeb was scouting for fresh locations to launch its remaining low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, including from ISRO’s facilities in India.

“We thank SpaceX for their support, which reflects our shared vision for the boundless potential of space…with these launch plans in place, we’re on track to finish building out our full fleet of satellites and deliver robust, fast, secure connectivity around the globe,” OneWeb CEO Neil Masterson said.

ET had reported in its March 17 edition that OneWeb has bagged the crucial GMPCS (global mobile personal communications by satellite services) licence from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), which paves the way for the LEO satellite operator to launch internet from space services in India later this year.

OneWeb, though, expects the India launch to be delayed beyond the May 2022 timeline due to challenges brought by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.