Country for PR: United Kingdom
Contributor: PR Newswire Europe
Thursday, March 25 2021 - 21:56
AsiaNet
Successful Launch Marks Key Milestone for OneWeb's 'Five to 50' Ambition
LONDON, March 25, 2021, /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/--

- OneWeb confirms successful launch and contact with all 36 satellites 

- The latest deployment brings the in-orbit constellation to 146 satellites 

- On track to cover 50 degrees Latitude and above by end of year; three more 
launches to go 


OneWeb, the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communications company, has 
confirmed the successful launch of all 36 satellites by Arianespace from the 
Vostochny Cosmodrome. This launch, its second under new ownership, brings its 
total in-orbit constellation to 146 satellites. These will form part of 
OneWeb's 648 LEO satellite fleet that will deliver high-speed, low-latency 
global connectivity.


Lift-off occurred on 25 March at 02:47 GMT. OneWeb's satellites separated from 
the rocket and were dispensed in nine batches over a period of 3 hours 51 
minutes with signal acquisition on all 36 satellites confirmed.

This is the second in a five-launch programme that will enable OneWeb's 
connectivity solution to reach all regions north of 50 degrees latitude by the 
middle of 2021, with service ready to start by years end, giving OneWeb the 
ability to connect millions of consumers in the northern hemisphere. 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. OneWeb then intends to make global service available in 2022.

Neil Masterson, OneWeb CEO commented: "This is the second of our 'Five to 50' 
launch series and represents a key moment in OneWeb's return. The next launch 
in the series is scheduled for the end of April, as we continue our drive 
towards commercial service this year. OneWeb is rising to the challenge of our 
mission to provide connectivity to everyone, everywhere, all the time. Backed 
by exemplary shareholders, we are connecting the world."


Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng added: "This latest launch is yet another 
boost for OneWeb and their ambitious plans to connect people and businesses 
across the globe to fast and reliable broadband. 

"Our support for OneWeb puts the UK at the forefront of the latest advances in 
space technology and demonstrates our commitment to grow Britain's competitive 
advantage in this field."

In March of 2021, OneWeb conducted its first network demonstrations to the U.S. 
Government [ 
https://www.oneweb.world/media-center/oneweb-demonstrates-network-capabilities-to-u-s-government 
] and will be rolling out additional demonstration kits and demo centres in 
locations such as : U.K., Alaska, Maryland and more. 

Webcast playback

Launch highlights available 
View on OneWeb YouTube 
[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzs-1EA5e6MRHXK8NKyqzcw ]
Launch Imagery
https://www.oneweb.world/launch5-mediakit
Launch Partner
Arianespace and Glavkosmos
Launch Facility
Soyuz Launch Complex, Vostochny Cosmodrome 
About OneWeb

OneWeb is a global communications network powered from space, headquartered in 
London, enabling connectivity for governments, businesses, and communities. It 
is implementing a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites with a network of 
global gateway stations and a range of user terminals to provide an affordable, 
fast, high-bandwidth and low-latency communications service, connected to the 
IoT future and a pathway to 5G for everyone, everywhere. Find out more at 
http://www.oneweb.world 

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1473994/OneWeb.jpg 

OneWeb Media Enquiries

Group
Chris McLaughlin 
cmclaughlin@oneweb.net 
M: + 447870 374795 

UK, Europe, MENA, APAC
Tabitha Aldrich-Smith
Taldrich-smith@oneweb.net
M: +44 7970 44029

USA, Latin America, Canada
Katie Dowd 
kdowd@oneweb.net 
M: +1 202 415 4030

FTI Consulting 
Charles Palmer, Ollie Bailey-Pratt 
Oneweb@fticonsulting.com  

SOURCE: OneWeb