Eutelsat OneWeb to deploy 340 satellites starting 2027; eyeing ISRO for strategic launches

Eutelsat OneWeb plans to deploy nearly 340 satellites in the coming years, the lift off for these begin in 2027, as it looks to strengthen its Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Government (B2G) offerings globally. Neha Idnani, Regional Vice President-APAC, Eutelsat and Director, OneWeb India, told Business Today in an exclusive conversation that the company is preparing for the next phase of its orbital rollout to enhance global network capacity and resilience.

OneWeb’s Gen-1 constellation, which began deployment in 2019, reached its full operational fleet of approximately 640 satellites by 2025. While the current network is fully functional, nearly 100 satellites from the initial fleet are slated for replenishment. The upcoming expansion starting in 2027 serves as a technical bridge before the transition to the more advanced Gen-2 architecture.

For the upcoming launches, Eutelsat OneWeb is expected to continue working with both the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and SpaceX. The Gen-1 constellation was successfully put into orbit through a diversified launch strategy involving Arianespace, SpaceX, and ISRO. Notably, ISRO’s LVM3 rocket deployed 72 satellites across two dedicated missions, while SpaceX handled a significant portion of the later Gen-1 deployments. Idnani indicated that India could play a significant role in the upcoming launch programs.

"Eutelsat OneWeb doesn't stop at Gen-1; we are investing capital and resources into the future and looking at launching over 340 satellites in the next leg to enhance the network," Idnani said.

The Gen-2 constellation will be a step up from the features packed in Gen-1, a new design packed with features such as Optical Inter-satellite links, regenerative payload, beam forming, and higher throughput to User Terminal according to the company.

India Strategy and APAC Partnerships

In the Indian market, Eutelsat OneWeb has secured authorizations from IN-SPACe to commence commercial services, marking a lead over competitors in regulatory clearances. To expand its B2B footprint, the company has partnered with Nelco (A Tata Group company), Airtel, and Hughes to deliver LEO-based connectivity for maritime, aviation, and remote land-based enterprises.

Beyond enterprise and B2G services, OneWeb is also targeting B2B opportunities such as cellular backhaul, allowing telecom operators to extend 4G and 5G coverage to remote regions, including the North-East and Himalayan belts. A similar approach is being rolled out across the Asia-Pacific region through partnerships with Chunghwa Telecom in Taiwan and Sof1tBank in Japan, focused on disaster recovery and secure communications for governments operating in challenging terrains.

A recent demonstration of this capability was seen during the Indian Army's relief operations in flood-hit Sri Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah. As part of Operation Sagar Bandhu, the company established high-speed LEO links to provide 24/7 telemedicine support and real-time coordination for rescue teams in areas where terrestrial infrastructure was washed away.

Technological Pivot and IRIS² Integration

While the 340-satellite integration begins in 2027, the full Gen-2 constellation is scheduled for deployment starting in 2030. This next-generation fleet will introduce major technological upgrades, including on-board processing and optical inter-satellite links (ISL), allowing satellites to communicate directly via laser to lower latency and reduce dependence on ground gateways.

The long-term roadmap is closely tied to the European Commission’s IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite) program, also slated for 2030. IRIS² is a €10.6 billion ($12.43 billion) multi-orbit initiative aimed at securing European strategic autonomy. The program is funded through a public-private partnership, with €6.5 billion ($7.62 billion) coming from the EU and the European Space Agency (ESA), and over €4 billion ($4.69 billion) from the SpaceRISE consortium, of which Eutelsat is a founding member.