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OneWeb

OneWeb

Company type	Private
Industry	Satellite Internet access
Predecessor	WorldVu Satellites
Founded	2012
Fate	Active
Headquarters	London , United Kingdom
Website	oneweb.world

OneWeb, formerly known as WorldVu Satellites, is a global communications company founded by Greg Wyler. The company is headquartered in London, United Kingdom and was founded in Arlington, Virginia, USA and plans to launch the OneWeb satellite constellation, a network of more than 650 low Earth orbit satellites. The company successfully launched their first six satellites into orbit on February, 2019 on the Soruz Rocket.

Its intended goal is to provide internet services to "everyone, everywhere" delivering much needed connectivity to rural and remote places as well as to a range27 of markets including aero, maritime, land mobility, cellular backhaul. OneWeb plans to start commercial services for early adopting customers in 2020 and globally by 2021.

History

The company was founded in 2012 under the name WorldVu, based in Britain’s Channel Islands.

OneWeb secured $500 million in funding including launch deals with Virgin Galactic and Arianespace in 2015.

In June 2015, OneWeb entered a deal with Airbus Defence and Space for the construction of its broadband Internet satellites after a competition among U.S. and European manufacturers.

In December 2016, OneWeb raised $1 billion from SoftBank Group Corp. and $200 million from existing investors. In July 2016, one year after the initial announcement, OneWeb stated they were on schedule.

In February 2017, OneWeb announced that it expected to sell all of its capacity by launch time, yet the only announced capacity sold was for a joint Gogo and Intelsat venture. Wyler announced he was considering nearly quadrupling the size of the satellite constellation by adding 1,972 additional satellites that it has priority rights to. With the original capital raise of $500 million in 2015, plus the $1 billion investment of SoftBank in 2016, previous "investors committed to an additional $200 million, bringing OneWeb’s total capital raised to $1.7 billion."

A merger arrangement with Intelsat that had been in negotiations during May 2017 collapsed in June and did not go forward.

On January 31, 2019, OneWeb announced that it would be delaying its first rocket launch due to an anomaly discovered on the rocket.

On February 27, 2019, OneWeb announced that it signed its first two client agreements marking the beginning of its commercialization and launched its first six satellite into low Earth orbit from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana using a Soyuz-2 rocket.

On March 18, 2019, OneWeb announced it had secured $1.25 billion in funding following a successful first launch on February 27, 2019.

Technology

Satellites

A model of the OneWeb satellite.

OneWeb satellites obtain an electric propulsion system and weigh about 150kg. These satellites will initially be launched into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at 450-500 kilometers then they will reach an operational orbit of 1,200km. The predicted orbital lifetime of each satellite is five years, once thier time is up, they will undergo the deorbiting phase. Assuming that the electric propulsion system will still be active after five years, OneWeb will be able to remove the satellite from the constellation and enter the atmosphere with careful maneuvers.

User Terminals

While the company is currently working on sending hundreds of satellites into space, the key to bridging the digital divide will be the user terminals. The user terminals are devices created for the users to access the satellites services. The terminals will provide high-speed connection and no change in latency during satellite switchovers. With hundreds of satellites in low earth orbit, the ground terminals must be able to quickly track the satellites; however, they cannot automatically do this alone. Therefore, in addition to these user terminals, the company will provide high-tech antennas that will track multiple satellites at once using electronic steering. Wyler plans for these antennas to be "extremely light, thin, low-power antennas that [are] cost-effective", and just like every other product produced by the company, they will be "produced in large volumes". The cost efficiency of these antennas will allow the company to sell user terminals for $200 to $300 once they begin commercial services.

Manufacturing

OneWeb manufacturing facility located in Exploration Park.

OneWeb has been able to achieve mass production of their satellites in their high-volume satellite manufacturing facility, located at the Exploration Park in Florida. Their rate of production is currently around 40 satellites per month and they plan to send up to 36 satellites per launch. Over 600 satellites are required for global coverage, the company estimates that they will achieve this, and be available for commercial service, in 2020. The facility has multiple stations that contribute to the assembly of the satellites. These stations include Payload, Avionic, Propulsion, Solar Array, and Final Assembly Line. The facility also has an office/ meeting area and a hospital for the manufacturing operators. The manufacturers spend about 8 hours in each station for one satellite; thus, 2 satellites are produced each day. The company ensures time and quality control through supervision and team work within the work area. However, the manufacturing process is not limited to human help. The facility utilizes various technologies including, Automatic Guided Vehicles, Smart inspection cameras, and Cobots to help manufacture satellites. The company has also enforced a paperless factory, meaning that all systems are tracked, recorded, and checked digitally.

The Mission

Economy

OneWeb seeks to improve the economy's access to information through global connectivity. In areas where there is little to no internet access, information is difficult to acquire. The convenience of accessing a digital wallet through a mobile phone will reduce the risk of theft and save time and cost. This convenience can benefit not only the economy, but the persons who are in need of fast and reliable internet access.

Schools

Connecting schools is another important factor in OneWeb's mission. In order for a community to prosper, the education within it must thrive because the students are its future. The use of the internet allows students to connect with the rest of the world and obtain information in seconds. Students in rural communities should have the ability to keep up with the data that continues to grow as the world evolves. OneWeb wants to include these students in the digital world and give them the same opportunities that other students have in different areas.

Healthcare

Global connectivity could assist telemedicine reach areas of the world where there is poor healthcare. In situations like hurricanes and earthquakes, OneWeb could help those who are left with no facilities and in need of healthcare. By bridging the digital divide, one web can provide higher quality healthcare and build healthier communities.

Gender equality and Inclusion

It has been estimated that approximately 75% of the offline population is fixed in 20 countries. An immense portion of this population, approximately 58%, are elderly, illiterate females in rural areas with low-income. The women who do have access to the internet and digital financial services, are likely spend more money than men on healthcare, food, and education. The women that are connected with the rest of the world are more likely to increase the health, happiness, productivity and fortune of their families than those who are not.

External links

• Official website