Eutelsat Expands OneWeb Fleet With Major Airbus Order

• Eutelsat has commissioned 340 new OneWeb satellites from Airbus to expand and maintain its low‑Earth‑orbit network.
• The order follows an earlier batch of 100 satellites and is part of a long‑term plan to keep the constellation operational until Europe’s IRIS² system becomes available.
• European governments continue to back Eutelsat as it remains the only large‑scale LEO competitor to Starlink.

A New Phase in the OneWeb Constellation

Eutelsat has confirmed a new order for 340 OneWeb satellites from Airbus, marking a significant step in the operator’s long‑term network strategy. The satellites will replace aging units in orbit and support the continued expansion of the low‑Earth‑orbit (LEO) system. OneWeb’s earliest spacecraft have been operating for roughly six years, prompting the need for gradual renewal. The company expects deliveries of the new units to begin toward the end of 2026.

Long‑Term Investment in LEO Infrastructure

This latest order follows a previous purchase of 100 satellites placed in December 2024, bringing the total number of contracted units to 440. Eutelsat has not disclosed the financial terms of the new agreement, but earlier estimates placed the full constellation extension program at roughly 2 to 2.2 billion euros between 2024 and 2029. The operator has stated that maintaining the OneWeb network until the European Union’s IRIS² constellation becomes available requires exactly this scale of investment. Funding plans outlined last year already anticipated the need for an additional 340 satellites beyond the initial batch.

European governments have shown heightened interest in Eutelsat due to its position as the only LEO constellation operator besides SpaceX’s Starlink. The network provides broadband connectivity from space, serving businesses, public institutions and consumers in regions with limited terrestrial infrastructure. France led a 1.5‑billion‑euro capital increase in 2025 to reinforce the company’s financial stability. The United Kingdom and other major investors also participated, reflecting the strategic value placed on independent European satellite capabilities.

Context and Broader Industry Developments

The renewed investment underscores Europe’s intention to maintain a competitive presence in the rapidly expanding LEO broadband market. Satellite‑based internet has become increasingly important as demand for global coverage and resilient communication networks grows. Eutelsat’s merger with OneWeb in 2023 created a consolidated operator capable of scaling more quickly. The company’s latest procurement signals that it intends to remain a central player in the sector as new constellations emerge.

One interesting detail is that Airbus builds OneWeb satellites using a high‑volume production model originally developed in partnership with OneWeb itself. This approach, inspired partly by automotive manufacturing techniques, allows satellites to be produced far more quickly and at lower cost than traditional spacecraft—an innovation that has helped accelerate the rise of LEO constellations.