PARIS, France — OneWeb is contemplating plans for a second-generation constellation collectively with Eutelsat forward of closing their proposed merger, executives for the satellite tv for pc operators stated Sept. 12.
The businesses “don’t want to attend” for the six to 9 months it might take for his or her merger to clear shareholder and regulatory approvals, OneWeb CEO Neil Masterson stated throughout World Satellite tv for pc Enterprise Week right here.
If OneWeb can leverage Eutelsat’s fleet in geostationary orbit (GEO), Eutelsat CEO Eva Berneke stated the low Earth orbit (LEO) broadband startup “may not want fairly as many new satellites as a way to deal with peak capability.”
The British LEO startup has deployed about two-thirds of the 648 LEO satellites in its present era constellation. It has launch agreements with SpaceX and India’s house company to finish the community by the tip of spring.
Earlier than the operators introduced plans July 26 to merge their companies, OneWeb’s Gen 2 was anticipated to function much more satellites than the present era to enhance its connectivity companies.
Berneke additionally stated the operators would possibly look to collectively develop a floor community for the upgraded constellation to carve out hybrid community synergies.
The businesses plan to supply extra particulars about the price of Gen 2 in mid-October.
Berneke stated she expects the businesses will have the ability to subject a request for quote (RFQ) for Gen 2 in about six months, after which finalize the design of the constellation six months after that.
The merged firm plans to pursue business-to-business and business-to-consumer connectivity markets they count on to develop to by three and 5 occasions, respectively, over the subsequent decade to a mixed $16 billion.
The “demand isn’t an issue right here,” Masterson stated, “achievement is the issue.”
In response to Masterson, combining OneWeb and Eutelsat’s applied sciences will unlock extra use instances to seize this increasing connectivity market.
Whereas Eutelsat’s GEO satellites can ship extra capability to congested areas, OneWeb’s LEO community affords lowered latency and pole-to-pole protection.
One of many development avenues the businesses are exploring is utilizing OneWeb Gen 2 to help Europe’s plans for a sovereign satellite tv for pc community constellation.
Though the U.Ok. will proceed to carry a “golden share” within the LEO operator following its merger with France-based Eutelsat, which grants the British authorities particular voting rights, Masterson stated the mixed group might implement measures that may safeguard European sovereignty.
He stated OneWeb and Eutelsat have already got related firewalls of their organizations for serving authorities clients.
“It’s completely regular,” he added, “it’s executed day in, day trip by all the most important satellite tv for pc operators.
“And so there’s no cause why that mannequin can’t be transferred to Europe or some other nation.”
OneWeb has additionally reserved choices for 90% of the launch capability it is going to require for Gen 2, Masterson stated with out elaborating.
In June, OneWeb introduced it is going to launch a few of its Gen 2 satellites on a launch automobile being developed by Relativity House as quickly as 2025.
Talking to SpaceNews on the convention’s sidelines, Berneke stated the businesses plan to pool their launch reservations collectively, together with slots Eutelsat has booked on new launch automobiles from Arianespace and Blue Origin.
She stated Eutelsat has been “constructing a listing of entry to house,” and has 4 or 5 launches in reserve over the subsequent 5 to 6 years.
OneWeb additionally has about 60 alternative satellites for its present era, she added, which implies it might maintain off from launching Gen 2 till 2026.
“They’ll delay the life just a little bit, however we do need to have the Gen 2 up there as a result of that may have new performance, extra capability [and will be] cheaper, so we’re not going to delay Gen 1 perpetually,” she stated.
