Eutelsat Orders 340 New OneWeb Satellites From Airbus to Strengthen Europe’s LEO Strategy

Eutelsat Group, the satellite operator with major strategic shareholdings held by the French state and the UK government, has placed a significant new order with Airbus Defence and Space for 340 additional low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to expand and refresh its OneWeb network.

The contract follows an earlier Airbus agreement linked to OneWeb’s next-generation satellite roadmap. With the latest deal, Eutelsat increases the scale of spacecraft under contract for the programme, reinforcing its ambition to maintain a long-term operational footprint in the fast-growing LEO broadband market.

The satellites will be built at Airbus’ facility in Toulouse, France, with deliveries expected to begin from late 2026. The programme is positioned as a first-generation refresh, aimed at replacing early OneWeb satellites over time and supporting service continuity for enterprise, telecom, and government customers.

Eutelsat is also leaning into a wider strategic narrative: Europe’s push for greater digital sovereignty. With an operational LEO constellation already in service through OneWeb, Eutelsat is positioning itself as a key European counterweight in a market dominated by SpaceX’s Starlink.

The investment comes as Europe accelerates long-term sovereign connectivity initiatives, including the European Union’s IRIS² satellite programme. Eutelsat is part of the consortium selected to support IRIS² deployment, which is expected to come online later this decade. Industry observers say the OneWeb refresh acts as a bridge—helping ensure Europe maintains secure LEO connectivity capacity while IRIS² is built out.

Summary

Eutelsat Group has signed a major agreement with Airbus Defence and Space for 340 additional OneWeb LEO satellites to support the long-term refresh and continuity of its operational broadband constellation. Deliveries are expected from late 2026. The order strengthens Europe’s role in LEO connectivity and provides capacity resilience as the EU progresses toward IRIS² later this decade.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) 

Q1: Why order new satellites if OneWeb is already operational?

LEO satellites typically have shorter operational lifespans than traditional geostationary satellites. Large constellations require regular replenishment and upgrades to maintain service quality, capacity, and network resilience.

Q2: Is this order meant to compete with Starlink?

Eutelsat is positioning OneWeb as a major non-U.S. alternative in LEO broadband—particularly for enterprise and government connectivity. While Starlink leads in scale, OneWeb’s value proposition includes coverage, security-focused use cases, and sovereign-aligned connectivity for Europe.

Q3: What role do the French and UK governments play?

France and the UK are significant strategic shareholders in Eutelsat, reflecting the national and European importance of satellite communications as critical infrastructure.

Q4: When will the new satellites enter service?

Eutelsat and Airbus have indicated deliveries are expected from late 2026, with launches and service entry occurring progressively thereafter as satellites are manufactured, deployed, and integrated into the network.

Q5: How does this relate to IRIS²?

IRIS² is the European Union’s multi-year programme to build sovereign satellite connectivity capacity. The OneWeb refresh strengthens Europe’s active LEO capability in the near-to-medium term while IRIS² deployment is underway.