Eutelsat Orders 340 Additional OneWeb LEO Satellites from Airbus to Strengthen Global Connectivity
The new satellites are a critical component of Eutelsat’s growth strategy, supporting service continuity, technological innovation, and expansion in both commercial and government sectors worldwide.
Eutelsat has awarded Airbus Defence and Space a contract to manufacture an additional 340 OneWeb low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, expanding its existing order from December 2024 of 100 satellites to a total of up to 440 satellites. Production will take place at Airbus’s Toulouse facility on a newly installed production line, with deliveries scheduled from the end of 2026.
The satellites are part of Eutelsat’s OneWeb LEO network, which provides high-speed, low-latency internet connectivity worldwide. The constellation currently comprises over 600 satellites across 12 synchronized orbital planes at an altitude of 1,200 km, bringing reliable internet access to even the most remote areas. The new satellites will replace aging units approaching the end of their operational life, ensuring continuity of service for customers.
In addition to maintaining service reliability, the latest batch of satellites will feature advanced technology upgrades, including digital channelizers for enhanced onboard processing, optimized architectures for long-term performance, and greater flexibility and efficiency. These improvements also enable the exploration of new business opportunities, such as hosted payloads, allowing third parties to deploy additional capabilities on the satellites.
Eutelsat’s OneWeb network is fully focused on the professional B2B market. As one of only two fully operational LEO networks worldwide and the sole European operator, it supports the growing demand for LEO capacity in both fixed and mobile connectivity, as well as providing sovereign-grade solutions for government and critical infrastructure customers.
“We are pleased to rely on our long-standing partner, Airbus, for the procurement of these latest satellites. They ensure service continuity for our growing customer base and enable us to pursue our growth path, building on the 80% topline expansion delivered in 2025.”
– Jean-François Fallacher, CEO, Eutelsat
“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.”
– Alain Fauré, Head of Space Systems, Airbus Defence and Space
The new satellites are a critical component of Eutelsat’s growth strategy, supporting service continuity, technological innovation, and expansion in both commercial and government sectors worldwide.
