Eutelsat Group announced the successful launch and deployment of 20 satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO), further strengthening the OneWeb constellation.
The satellites were launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9, which lifted off from the Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on October 19, 2024. The satellites separated successfully from the vehicle and were dispensed in 10 batches over a period of 20 minutes, with signal acquisition confirmed on all 20 satellites. Airbus U.S. Space & Defense built the satellites on Merritt Island, Florida.
This launch occurred following the first anniversary of the merger between Eutelsat and OneWeb, which created the world’s only GEO-LEO operator. Eutelsat Group is uniquely positioned to offer customers the advantages of GEO for high-throughput capacity alongside the low-latency, high-speed global connectivity provided by LEO satellites. Since the merger, Eutelsat has seen a significant increase in demand for multi-orbit services and is collaborating with industry leaders such as Intelsat, Inmarsat Maritime, and Hughes to deliver cutting-edge connectivity services worldwide across sectors.
Speaking at the launch, Eva Berneke, CEO of Eutelsat Group, said: “We are delighted to see the successful launch and deployment of new OneWeb satellites. These satellites will strengthen our network services, improving overall performance for our customers. As we celebrate the merger anniversary with Eutelsat and OneWeb, we are excited by the growing demand for our multi-orbit services. We remain committed to delivering value for our customers and shareholders. I want to thank and congratulate the Eutelsat Group and SpaceX teams for their hard work to facilitate this launch.”
