The latest contract, announced this week, is designed to secure continuity of service for OneWeb by replacing satellites as they reach the end of their operational lives. It follows an earlier order for 100 satellites placed in late 2024, bringing the total number of next-generation OneWeb spacecraft on order to 440.

Manufacturing will take place at Airbus Defence and Space’s facilities in Toulouse, where a dedicated production line has been established for OneWeb satellites. Deliveries are expected to begin towards the end of 2026, ensuring the constellation remains fully operational into the next decade.

OneWeb currently operates a fleet of more than 600 satellites in orbit at around 1,200 kilometres above Earth, providing global coverage with low-latency connectivity.

The network plays a central role in Eutelsat’s strategy following its merger with OneWeb, positioning the group as one of the few operators able to offer both geostationary and LEO satellite services.

The expansion comes as demand for satellite-based connectivity grows across enterprise, government, aviation and maritime markets, while geopolitical concerns and network resilience push customers to seek alternatives to terrestrial infrastructure.

It also underlines Eutelsat’s ambition to remain a credible rival to larger LEO constellations, particularly SpaceX’s Starlink.

While financial terms were not disclosed, the extended satellite procurement programme has previously been valued at around €2bn, forming part of a broader investment effort to maintain OneWeb’s service until future systems, including Europe’s planned IRIS² constellation, become available.

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