Bharti-backed OneWeb collaborates with ISRO arm to launch low-earth orbit satellite

CIOTechOutlook Team | Thursday, 21 April 2022, 09:22 IST

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Bharti-backed OneWeb late made an agreement with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), to complete OneWeb’s low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite launch program.

The first launch with NSIL is expected in 2022 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC)-SHAR, Sriharikota, OneWeb said in a media statement.
The launches will add to OneWeb’s total in-orbit constellation of 428 satellites, 66% of the planned total fleet, to construct a global network that will deliver high-speed, low-latency connectivity.

“This is yet another historic day for collaboration in space, thanks to the shared ambition and vision of New Space India and OneWeb. This most recent agreement on launch plans adds considerable momentum to the development of OneWeb’s network, as we work together across the space industry toward our common goal of connecting communities globally,” said Sunil Bharti Mittal, OneWeb Executive Chairman.

This launch contract follows a similar but different agreement between OneWeb and Elon Musk’s SpaceX to resume satellite launches, which was announced in March 2022, following geopolitical tensions arising from the Russia-Ukraine war.

OneWeb mentioned it has already activated service with its network at the 50th parallel and above, as demand for the company’s broadband connectivity services continues to grow from multiple sectors and markets.

OneWeb has bagged the crucial GMPCS (global mobile personal communications by satellite services) licence from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), which paves the way for the LEO satellite operator to launch internet from space services in India later this year.

OneWeb, though, expects the India launch to be delayed beyond the May 2022 timeline due to challenges brought by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

"This partnership has the potential to drive the attention of many international players towards India’s capabilities, leading to significant increase in our share in the international space economy which is just 2.6% currently and at the same time contribute to nation building and economic growth of the country," said Lt. Gen. AK Bhatt (Retd.), Director-General, Indian Space Association (ISpA).

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