Eutelsat OneWeb: Constellation - General Thread

[vyoma]

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/telecom/telecom-news/oneweb-gets-india-permit-but-launch-delayed-amid-russia-ukraine-war/articleshow/90264343.cms

OneWeb gets India permit but launch delayed amid Russia-Ukraine war

Bharti Group-backed OneWeb has received the crucial GMPCS (global mobile personal communications by satellite services) permit from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), paving the way for the company to launch broadband-from-space services in India later this year. The launch in India though is likely to get delayed beyond the May 2022 timeline, due to challenges brought by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

“We have received the Letter of Intent (LoI) for the GMPCS licence from DoT and look forward to contributing to the Digital India vision through our services,” a OneWeb spokesperson told ET.

OneWeb, though, said its targeted May 2022 launch of satellite broadband services in India could suffer some delays as the global satellite operator is scouting for fresh locations to launch its remaining low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, including from ISRO’s facilities in India.

[jongoff]

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/telecom/telecom-news/oneweb-gets-india-permit-but-launch-delayed-amid-russia-ukraine-war/articleshow/90264343.cms

OneWeb gets India permit but launch delayed amid Russia-Ukraine war

Bharti Group-backed OneWeb has received the crucial GMPCS (global mobile personal communications by satellite services) permit from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), paving the way for the company to launch broadband-from-space services in India later this year. The launch in India though is likely to get delayed beyond the May 2022 timeline, due to challenges brought by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

“We have received the Letter of Intent (LoI) for the GMPCS licence from DoT and look forward to contributing to the Digital India vision through our services,” a OneWeb spokesperson told ET.

OneWeb, though, said its targeted May 2022 launch of satellite broadband services in India could suffer some delays as the global satellite operator is scouting for fresh locations to launch its remaining low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, including from ISRO’s facilities in India.

Hmm... given that it takes ~6mos for OneWeb satellites to orbit raise into their operating orbits (IIRC), that would mean they were planning to start service in India in May using just the satellites they had already launched by last November/December. I wonder how many more launches they needed to be able to offer reliable services there -- are the current launches adequate? Or do they need to finish out more of their constellation to provide uninterrupted service?

~Jon

[Rondaz]

We have partnered with ISM, a subsidiary of @Kyndryl, to offer high-bandwidth and low-latency internet access to remote organizations and hard to reach communities across Canada.

https://twitter.com/OneWeb/status/1504140295017058305

[Rondaz]

We are pleased to announce that the US Government has approved the appointment of three former senior US national security officials to serve as members of a Proxy Board for OneWeb Technologies, @OneWeb’s US proxy focused on solving critical connectivity challenges for customers.

The appointments are:

Chair of the Board, Susan M. Gordon, former U.S. Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence; Richard V. Spencer, the 76th U.S. Secretary of the Navy; and Ryan D. McCarthy, the 24th U.S. Secretary of the Army.

https://twitter.com/OneWeb/status/1504445159743926275

[Rondaz]

Rogozin said that OneWeb could go bankrupt because of Roskosmos.

Rogozin: OneWeb will go bankrupt after the refusal of Roskosmos to provide it with rockets.

12:35 03/19/2022 (updated: 12:51 03/19/2022)

SAMARA, March 19 - RIA Novosti. The OneWeb company will go bankrupt after the refusal of Roskosmos to provide them with rockets, said Dmitry Rogozin, CEO of the Russian state corporation.

"They will not now withdraw any OneWeb either from Baikonur or from Kuru. The damage that is directly caused to OneWeb, because it will now go bankrupt," Rogozin said during a visit to the Progress Rocket and Space Center (RKC).

"Specialists know that OneWeb is everything, there will be no more OneWeb," he added.

Rogozin said that "there will be no more commercial customers," since Roskosmos has enough work in Russia 's interests .

The general director of Roscosmos recalled that satellites of private Russian companies would be launched on the rockets originally built for OneWeb, and explained that this could be done almost free of charge, since the rockets had already been paid for by a foreign company, and Roscosmos would not transfer them to it.

Russia refused to launch OneWeb satellites after the British government did not want to leave the directors of the company, and the satellite company itself did not give guarantees that the satellites would not be used for military purposes.

https://ria.ru/20220319/oneweb-1779000101.html

[russianhalo117]

Rogozin said that OneWeb could go bankrupt because of Roskosmos.

Rogozin: OneWeb will go bankrupt after the refusal of Roskosmos to provide it with rockets.

12:35 03/19/2022 (updated: 12:51 03/19/2022)

SAMARA, March 19 - RIA Novosti. The OneWeb company will go bankrupt after the refusal of Roskosmos to provide them with rockets, said Dmitry Rogozin, CEO of the Russian state corporation.

"They will not now withdraw any OneWeb either from Baikonur or from Kuru. The damage that is directly caused to OneWeb, because it will now go bankrupt," Rogozin said during a visit to the Progress Rocket and Space Center (RKC).

"Specialists know that OneWeb is everything, there will be no more OneWeb," he added.

Rogozin said that "there will be no more commercial customers," since Roskosmos has enough work in Russia 's interests .

The general director of Roscosmos recalled that satellites of private Russian companies would be launched on the rockets originally built for OneWeb, and explained that this could be done almost free of charge, since the rockets had already been paid for by a foreign company, and Roscosmos would not transfer them to it.

Russia refused to launch OneWeb satellites after the British government did not want to leave the directors of the company, and the satellite company itself did not give guarantees that the satellites would not be used for military purposes.

https://ria.ru/20220319/oneweb-1779000101.html

OneWeb's forfeited launchers could now fly the Marafon mega constellation, part of Sfera programme.

[deadman1204]

Rogozin said that OneWeb could go bankrupt because of Roskosmos.

Rogozin: OneWeb will go bankrupt after the refusal of Roskosmos to provide it with rockets.

12:35 03/19/2022 (updated: 12:51 03/19/2022)

SAMARA, March 19 - RIA Novosti. The OneWeb company will go bankrupt after the refusal of Roskosmos to provide them with rockets, said Dmitry Rogozin, CEO of the Russian state corporation.

"They will not now withdraw any OneWeb either from Baikonur or from Kuru. The damage that is directly caused to OneWeb, because it will now go bankrupt," Rogozin said during a visit to the Progress Rocket and Space Center (RKC).

"Specialists know that OneWeb is everything, there will be no more OneWeb," he added.

Rogozin said that "there will be no more commercial customers," since Roskosmos has enough work in Russia 's interests .

The general director of Roscosmos recalled that satellites of private Russian companies would be launched on the rockets originally built for OneWeb, and explained that this could be done almost free of charge, since the rockets had already been paid for by a foreign company, and Roscosmos would not transfer them to it.

Russia refused to launch OneWeb satellites after the British government did not want to leave the directors of the company, and the satellite company itself did not give guarantees that the satellites would not be used for military purposes.

https://ria.ru/20220319/oneweb-1779000101.html

Its still shocking to see Roscosmos blatantly stealing from their customers

[jongoff]

Its still shocking to see Roscosmos blatantly stealing from their customers

This kind of behavior on Rogozin's part is more likely to doom their future than Oneweb's.

~Jon

[russianhalo117]

Rogozin said that OneWeb could go bankrupt because of Roskosmos.

Rogozin: OneWeb will go bankrupt after the refusal of Roskosmos to provide it with rockets.

12:35 03/19/2022 (updated: 12:51 03/19/2022)

SAMARA, March 19 - RIA Novosti. The OneWeb company will go bankrupt after the refusal of Roskosmos to provide them with rockets, said Dmitry Rogozin, CEO of the Russian state corporation.

"They will not now withdraw any OneWeb either from Baikonur or from Kuru. The damage that is directly caused to OneWeb, because it will now go bankrupt," Rogozin said during a visit to the Progress Rocket and Space Center (RKC).

"Specialists know that OneWeb is everything, there will be no more OneWeb," he added.

Rogozin said that "there will be no more commercial customers," since Roskosmos has enough work in Russia 's interests .

The general director of Roscosmos recalled that satellites of private Russian companies would be launched on the rockets originally built for OneWeb, and explained that this could be done almost free of charge, since the rockets had already been paid for by a foreign company, and Roscosmos would not transfer them to it.

Russia refused to launch OneWeb satellites after the British government did not want to leave the directors of the company, and the satellite company itself did not give guarantees that the satellites would not be used for military purposes.

https://ria.ru/20220319/oneweb-1779000101.html

Its still shocking to see Roscosmos blatantly stealing from their customers

It is not stealing when OneWeb in addition to Arianespace formally forfeited all of their remaining launchers.

[Kaputnik]

Any word from the Indian government? An Indian company has a c.$500m share in the company and despite Indian neutrality they are losing out here. Russia has very few friends on the international stage; China and India are the two most notable potential allies who have not condemned Russia.
If I was India I would certainly be exerting some pressure to get my payloads flown.

[Lars-J]

Rogozin said that OneWeb could go bankrupt because of Roskosmos.

Rogozin: OneWeb will go bankrupt after the refusal of Roskosmos to provide it with rockets.

12:35 03/19/2022 (updated: 12:51 03/19/2022)

SAMARA, March 19 - RIA Novosti. The OneWeb company will go bankrupt after the refusal of Roskosmos to provide them with rockets, said Dmitry Rogozin, CEO of the Russian state corporation.

"They will not now withdraw any OneWeb either from Baikonur or from Kuru. The damage that is directly caused to OneWeb, because it will now go bankrupt," Rogozin said during a visit to the Progress Rocket and Space Center (RKC).

"Specialists know that OneWeb is everything, there will be no more OneWeb," he added.

Rogozin said that "there will be no more commercial customers," since Roskosmos has enough work in Russia 's interests .

The general director of Roscosmos recalled that satellites of private Russian companies would be launched on the rockets originally built for OneWeb, and explained that this could be done almost free of charge, since the rockets had already been paid for by a foreign company, and Roscosmos would not transfer them to it.

Russia refused to launch OneWeb satellites after the British government did not want to leave the directors of the company, and the satellite company itself did not give guarantees that the satellites would not be used for military purposes.

https://ria.ru/20220319/oneweb-1779000101.html

Its still shocking to see Roscosmos blatantly stealing from their customers

It is not stealing when OneWeb in addition to Arianespace formally forfeited all of their remaining launchers.

Huh? That would be like me not filing an insurance claim after a theft. But that does not change the fact that a theft occurred.

[butters]

Any word from the Indian government? An Indian company has a c.$500m share in the company and despite Indian neutrality they are losing out here. Russia has very few friends on the international stage; China and India are the two most notable potential allies who have not condemned Russia.
If I was India I would certainly be exerting some pressure to get my payloads flown.

It's complicated, because while the Modi government is happily making deals to dramatically increase imports of heavily-discounted Russian oil and generally taking this opportunity to strengthen India's long-standing strategic alliance with Russia, India's tech industry thoroughly recognizes that Western Europe is their most important market.

While OneWeb's UK ownership is public, their Indian ownership is private and not necessarily aligned with the geopolitical interests of the Indian government. The Mittal family and the remainder of Bharti's board may be inclined to take the position that their future prospects in the telecommunications industry depend on strengthening relationships with Europe, which was probably a strategic consideration driving their OneWeb investment in the first place.

Bharti bought into a fundamentally Western European project. That's the strategic alliance they've made, for better or worse, and regardless of any positions taken by their government, short of nationalizing the Indian telco industry. India has launch vehicles that could potentially help OneWeb. That's the option Bharti and the UK could realistically negotiate with the ISRO and the Indian government.

[alanr74]

It is not stealing when OneWeb in addition to Arianespace formally forfeited all of their remaining launchers.

They wouldn't launch the satellites, which is a breach of contract. They also won't return the satellites, which is theft. 

They've basically lost all income from any “western” company or government now, and quite possibly will be unable to launch further rockets from any other customer other than Russia.

[Bean Kenobi]

In a related development, OneWeb is expected to announce its new plans tomorrow for further deployment of its satellite Internet constellation: http://russianspaceweb.com/oneweb.html#03...

https://mobile.twitter.com/RussianSpaceWeb/status/1505571099609812999?cxt=HHwWjsCyhYa87uQpAAAA

[Rondaz]

OneWeb signs up SpaceX to resume satellite launches.

https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1505893945280282624

[alanr74]

So SpaceX it is. I wonder what the time frame will be and how many they can launch with each launch.

[Robotbeat]

Why is Falcon the first assumption?

Vindication for all of us saying Falcon could step in to launch OneWeb. C:

https://twitter.com/oneweb/status/1505892782224904196?s=21

[Jim]

Why is Falcon the first assumption?

Vindication for all of us saying Falcon could step in to launch OneWeb. C:

There is still the followons.  This just the immediate ones.

[jpo234]

https://oneweb.net/resources/oneweb-resume-satellite-launches-through-agreement-spacex

OneWeb to resume satellite launches through agreement with SpaceX

Agreement will enable OneWeb to resume its launch programme and complete satellite constellation for industry-grade secure connectivity around the world.

London, U.K., 21 March, 2022 – OneWeb, the low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications company, announced today that the company and SpaceX entered into an agreement that will enable OneWeb to resume satellite launches.

The first launch with SpaceX is anticipated in 2022 and will add to OneWeb’s total in-orbit constellation that currently stands at 428 satellites, or 66 percent of the fleet. OneWeb's network will deliver high-speed, low-latency global connectivity.

OneWeb CEO Neil Masterson said: “We thank SpaceX for their support, which reflects our shared vision for the boundless potential of space. With these launch plans in place, we’re on track to finish building out our full fleet of satellites and deliver robust, fast, secure connectivity around the globe.”

Demand for OneWeb’s broadband connectivity services has continued to grow across telecommunications providers, aviation and maritime markets, and governments worldwide. OneWeb has activated service with its network at the 50th parallel and above, and early partners are initiating service.

Terms of the agreement with SpaceX are confidential.

[Robotbeat]

Why is Falcon the first assumption?

Vindication for all of us saying Falcon could step in to launch OneWeb. C:

There is still the followons.  This just the immediate ones.

I expect and hope that OneWeb launches on other launch vehicles. The other reusable launchers like New Glenn and Neutron will struggle to find enough payloads to launch without megaconstellations.