Broadband Satellite Constellation Obtains Financing From Virgin Group, Qualcomm

Greg Wyler

OneWeb Ltd., formerly known known as WorldVu Satellites Ltd., has received financing from Virgin Group and to launch a constellation of 650 satellites to provide global broadband coverage, according to media reports. Space News reports on the company led by Greg Wyler:

The OneWeb network is currently designed as some 650 125-kilogram satellites operating at 1,200 kilometers in altitude, each capable of delivering at least 8 gigabits per second of throughput to provide Internet access to homes and mobile platforms.

Based in Britain’s Channel Islands, OneWeb has begun work on user terminals whose antennas — combining mechanical steering and a phased-array antenna — would measure 36 centimeters by 16 centimeters. They would provide Internet access at 50 megabits per second.

Wyler founded O3b Networks, now a 12-satellite constellation of medium Earth orbit Ka-band satellites serving telecommunications operators and other corporate and government customers. O3b’s major shareholder is satellite fleet operator SES of Luxembourg. Wyler declined to say whether SES or any other existing fleet operator had expressed interest in joining OneWeb.

OneWeb is likely to cost between $1.5 billion and $2 billion to build, launch and insure the satellites, and complete early user-terminal work.

OneWeb would provide business for Virgin Galactic’s LauncherOne, a small satellite booster the company is developing to be air launched by WhiteKnightTwo. Space News reports that Wyler said LauncherOne would be used for replacement satellites. The bulk of the constellation would be launched on larger rockets.

“Each LauncherOne mission will be capable of delivering as much as 225 kilograms (500 pounds) to a low inclination Low Earth Orbit or 120 kilograms (265 pounds) to a high-altitude Sun-Synchronous Orbit, for a price of less than $10M,” according to the Virgin Galactic website.

Richard Branson was effusive in a post on the Virgin Group website.

“Delighted to share news of an incredibly exciting project that could transform the world: we are creating a new constellation of satellites to make high speed internet and telephony available to billions of people who don’t currently have access,” Branson wrote. “OneWeb Ltd will build, launch and operate the world’s largest ever satellite network. Virgin Galactic’s LauncherOne programme will help make it possible with frequent satellite launches at a much lower cost and with greater reliability.”

Media reports have linked Wyler and OneWeb to SpaceX Founder Elon Musk, but the exact relationship is unclear. Musk announced earlier this week that he will unveil a satellite engineering office in the Seattle area on Friday. The facility will initially employ about 60 people, reaching as many as 1,000 within three to four years, Musk said.