At the International Space Summit in Paris, in the presence of French Minister of Higher Education, Research and Space Philippe Baptiste, Eutelsat announced it has ordered 229 more OneWeb satellites from Airbus, marking a major expansion of its low Earth orbit (LEO) connectivity network.
Eutelsat has signed an Authorisation to Proceed (ATP) with Airbus Defence and Space to begin initial work on the new batch. These satellites come in addition to the 440 units already ordered from Airbus, which are set for delivery and launch in the near future. Once completed, the total number of OneWeb satellites built by Airbus will reach 669, a move designed to secure and improve long-term service continuity for the entire constellation.
Manufacturing will take place at Airbus Defence and Space’s facility in Toulouse, France — the same site currently delivering earlier satellite batches. This setup ensures uninterrupted production, consistent quality, and steady, efficient delivery progress.
OneWeb’s LEO network provides high-speed, low-latency connectivity worldwide. It already operates more than 600 satellites in 12 coordinated orbital planes 1,200 kilometers above Earth, bringing reliable internet access to remote and underserved areas. The new satellites will help maintain full operational capability by gradually replacing older units nearing the end of their service lives.
This latest batch retains all proven features of earlier models while incorporating upgrades developed throughout the program. Key improvements include advanced digital channelisers that boost onboard processing power, efficiency, and flexibility. The new satellites will also have the ability to carry additional hosted payloads alongside OneWeb’s core Ku-band mission.
Jean-François Fallacher, Chief Executive Officer of Eutelsat, described the order as a key milestone. “This is an exciting next step for OneWeb and for Eutelsat’s LEO strategy. With the first satellites from the 440-unit batch due for delivery and launch soon, our replenishment program is moving forward. The planned addition of 229 more satellites will further strengthen OneWeb, while IRIS² will bring significant new capacity and capabilities. Together, they give us a powerful roadmap to serve our customers, grow our LEO business and reinforce our role at the heart of Europe’s sovereign connectivity future,” he stated.
Alain Fauré, Head of Space Systems at Airbus Defence and Space, welcomed the continued trust shown by Eutelsat. “This new contract from Eutelsat highlights the maturity of our product, the excellence of our supply chain and their trust in our industrial know-how for high-rate satellite manufacturing for large-scale LEO constellations. This is also a further step for European sovereignty, for which Airbus and Eutelsat have been key partners for decades,” he said.
For Eutelsat, the additional order underscores confidence in OneWeb’s market position and future growth. It secures service reliability for existing and new customers, supports broader European connectivity goals, and extends the company’s competitive edge in the global satellite communications sector. For Airbus, the deal confirms its leadership in large-scale satellite manufacturing and deepens a long-standing partnership central to Europe’s independent space and digital infrastructure.
