OneWeb, the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) global satellite communications company, confirms plans to launch a further 36 satellites into Low Earth Orbit on 26th April as part of its sixth launch. The launch will be conducted by Arianespace from the Vostochny Cosmodrome.
Lift-off will take place on 25th April at 23:14 BST, 26th April at 07:14 Local Time, Vostochny and the mission to insert the satellites into initial orbit - prior to raising to operational orbit is expected to last approximately four hours.
The planned launch will bring OneWeb’s total in-orbit constellation to 182 satellites and is the third launch in OneWeb’s ‘Five to 50’ programme, to deliver its connectivity solution to reach regions north of 50 degrees latitude by June 2021.
OneWeb’s ‘Five to 50’ programme aims to connect broadband data users in the northern hemisphere, with services covering the United Kingdom, Alaska, Northern Europe, Greenland, Iceland, the Artic Seas and Canada. Service will be ready to start by the end of year, with global service available in 2022.
OneWeb also continues to grow rapidly as it sees increasing demand across its customer base. The company has recently announced distribution signings across multiple industries with The AST Group, PDI, among others, and more signings to be announced in the coming weeks as OneWeb expands its global capabilities.
OneWeb also agreed its latest MoU with the Government of Kazakhstan this month as it continues to demonstrate the company’s commercial viability and the confidence customers have in its services and offering.
In March 2021, OneWeb conducted its first network demonstrations to the U.S. Government and will be rolling out additional demonstration kits and Service Demo-centres in locations such as: Westcott 5G Centre, U.K., Talkeetna, Alaska, in the Washington D.C. area and more.