OneWeb Starlink Wars Ground conundrum hinders Eutelsat s dream of global coverage

Mondo Technology Updated on 2024-02-02

February** Dynamic Incentive Program Eutelsat, France's leading satellite operator, is launching its OneWeb Internet constellation globally, but is in trouble due to significant challenges in landing rights and terrestrial gateway deployment. The OneWeb satellite constellation is designed to provide high-speed internet service worldwide. However, it is not difficult to send these broadband satellites into space, and the problem for Eutelsat lies on the ground.

According to SpaceNews, the company's progress has been hampered by the difficulty of securing landing rights in countries such as India, Thailand and Turkey, as well as delays in deploying the required ground gateways. The right to land a satellite refers to the legal permission granted by a country to a satellite operator to transmit and receive signals to the satellite within the territory of that country.

Terrestrial gateways are key sites that connect satellite networks in space with Earth communication systems, facilitating data transmission and broadband services. However, the deployment of the approximately 40 gateways required for OneWeb services is lagging behind, with only 90% of the terrestrial network expected to be ready by the end of June. Eutelsat does not expect to reach the full number of gateways until the end of 2024.

This delay is particularly problematic in countries such as India and Saudi Arabia, where Eutelsat holds "receive or pay" contracts; These agreements stipulate that purchasers must accept LEO broadband services once they are operational or face financial penalties. Needless to say, this won't make Eutelsat's customers very happy, as they may not receive the promised satellite broadband service on time.

The OneWeb constellation, a network of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, aims to enhance Eutelsat's services by filling a gap in the traditional internet infrastructure. Unlike SpaceX Starlink, which directly serves end users, OneWeb favors Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and other commercial customers, positioning Eutelsat as an infrastructure provider rather than a direct-to-consumer service provider.

Related Pages