Eutelsat has awarded Airbus Defence and Space a contract to build a further 340 OneWeb low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Together with the previous batch of 100 satellites procured in December 2024, the total number of satellites ordered is up to 440. The satellites will be manufactured at Airbus Defence and Space’s Toulouse facility on a newly installed production line, with delivery from the end of 2026.

Eutelsat’s OneWeb low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network delivers high-speed, low-latency connectivity on a global basis. With over 600 satellites flying in 12 synchronised orbital planes 1,200 km above the Earth, the constellation brings high-speed internet to every corner of the planet. The availability of these latest satellites will assure full operational continuity for customers of the constellation, progressively replacing early batches coming to end of operational life.

Furthermore, they will integrate technology upgrades including advanced digital channelizers, enabling enhanced onboard processing capabilities as well as greater efficiency and flexibility. They incorporate optimized architecture designed to maximize long-term operational performance. With these latest satellites, Eutelsat will also be evaluating opportunities for new business cases, notably through embarkation capabilities for hosted payloads.

Fully focused on the professional B2B market, Eutelsat’s OneWeb is one of only two fully operational LEO networks globally and the sole European operator. This unique position enables Eutelsat to meet the rapidly growing demand for LEO capacity in the fixed and mobile connectivity segments as well as playing a strategic role in critical government-related sectors by delivering sovereign-grade connectivity solutions that empower organizations with reliable and secure communications.

Jean-François Fallacher, Eutelsat Chief Executive Officer commented: “We are pleased to rely on our long-standing partner, Airbus, for the procurement of these latest satellites. They ensure service continuity for the growing number of our customers and distribution partners benefiting from the unparalleled performance of our ubiquitous, low-latency LEO capacity, and enable us to pursue our growth path, building on the 80% topline expansion delivered in 2025.”

“This latest contract from Eutelsat is an endorsement of our design and manufacturing expertise for LEO satellites. Airbus has been a key partner and supplier to Eutelsat for more than 30 years and this award further cements our important relationship,” added Alain Fauré, Head of Space Systems at Airbus Defence and Space.

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