India has once again demonstrated its leading position in the commercial launch service market with the successful deployment of 36 satellites for low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications company OneWeb. The satellites were launched on Sunday, 26 March 2023 by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India, using the LVM3 launch vehicle. This is OneWeb’s 18th launch and its third this year, bringing the total number of its constellation to 618 satellites. The constellation design calls for 588 satellites for global coverage, and additional satellites are planned for resiliency and redundancy.
OneWeb’s coverage solutions will bring secured connectivity to enterprises, towns, villages, municipalities, and schools, including the most remote areas across India. The launch marks OneWeb’s second satellite deployment from India, highlighting the strong partnership between NSIL, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and OneWeb’s commitment to providing connectivity across India. Once activated, OneWeb’s coverage solutions will enhance its existing connectivity solutions that are already live in regions north of 50 degrees latitude, bringing new areas online by partnering with leading providers.
Sunil Bharti Mittal, Executive Chairman of OneWeb, said that the launch represented a major step towards closing the digital divide as contained in an official press release. He also expressed his pride that OneWeb had crossed the threshold to be able to provide its global coverage in India, where the government’s target to significantly expand access to high-speed internet connectivity is vital. Shri. Somanath S, the Secretary, Department of Space and Chairman, ISRO, commented that the launch was a very important milestone for ISRO, and with this launch of LVM3, ISRO was confident of handling many more such launches on demand for both LEO and GEO mission in the future.
Radhakrishnan D, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, NewSpace India Limited, expressed his happiness that the mission would mark the accomplishment of the full constellation and the commencement of commercial broadband services globally by OneWeb. UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology Michelle Donelan said that the completion of the LEO constellation was hugely significant both for OneWeb and the UK’s wider sector. Neil Masterson, Chief Executive of OneWeb, added that the launch was the most significant milestone in the history of OneWeb and paid tribute to all of his colleagues at OneWeb who had driven the rapid momentum and progress over recent years.
