OneWeb partners with Isro to launch satellites using GSLV-MKIII, PSLV

Bengaluru: UK-based global communication satellite provider OneWeb, which counts Bharti Airtel as its largest shareholder, has entered into an agreement with India’s space agency to launch satellites aboard the country’s heaviest launch vehicle GSLV-MKIII along with its workhorse PSLV.

Sunil Bharti Mittal, chairman at Bharti Airtel, on Monday said that OneWeb’s collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) was moving at a very fast pace, and was the first such private engagement that would encourage more international players to come to India’s doorstep for launch services.

“I’m glad to share with all of you today that we’ve (OneWeb) entered into an arrangement to use the workhorse of Isro - the PSLV, and importantly the new rocket they’re bringing out, of a very large payload capacity, GSLV MKIII, to launch OneWeb satellites from the Indian soil,” Mittal said at the launch of the Indian Space Association (ISpA).


OneWeb is building a constellation of 650 satellites in lower earth orbit (LEO) that will provide internet connectivity through space. It has so far launched 322 such satellites and is looking to now use Isro’s services to launch some of its satellites to augment its launching capabilities.

Mittal added that OneWeb would launch its services in India in the middle of next year.

“OneWeb, which has got only 322 satellites in space, will be providing its services in the middle of next year to the entire country - from oceans, deserts, forests and importantly, the rural hinterland,” Mittal said.

With this, OneWeb will become the first private company to launch satellites using Isro’s GSLV-MKIII launch vehicle, which has a capacity to launch up to ten tonnes into lower earth orbit and four tonnes into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).