OneWeb, a UK satellite Internet provider, has finally made its services available worldwide. Unlike most other satellite operators, OneWeb Internet offers its services to other companies rather than individual users. So, is OneWeb available to consumers? Yes, even though indirectly — for example, anyone interested can access OneWeb through other telecom companies, broadband providers, or even government agencies that sell Internet plans directly to consumers. This business model has some significant advantages for the end-users, though — so read on to learn about OneWeb’s main features, speed, coverage, and available plans.
How Does OneWeb Satellite Work?
Pretty much like any other Internet constellation — OneWeb has a series of satellites in low earth orbit that communicate with the Earth and ensure interrupted, fiberless access to the Internet in every corner of the planet. As of May 2023, the company has already deployed 634 satellites, and in August 2023, it merged with another European satellite provider, Eutelsat. The merger now allows both companies to offer their Internet services to any interested providers, ensuring a worldwide OneWeb coverage map even despite a relatively small constellation (in contrast to that, SpaceX has over four thousand smallsats in its network, yet it still cannot cover the areas around our planet’s poles).
So, what are the features of the OneWeb satellite? Does the network ensure 100% coverage thanks to its partnerships with other providers? Yes, but not just that. The UK provider placed its constellation on LEO at a 1200 km altitude, slightly higher than most other Internet operators aimed for. However, the distance is not that great compared to other telecommunications spacecraft placed in geostationary orbit at an altitude of almost 36,000 km. This results in a relatively even coverage with minimum latency and interruptions.
Also, as Orbital Today explains, OneWeb strictly complies with the standards of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) — that is, its satellite signals are automatically compatible with those of mobile operators. Simply put, OneWeb Internet is perfectly integrated with your mobile Internet — if, of course, you are using a mobile operator who partners up with this British satellite company. Users can effortlessly switch between two connection types depending on which signal is stronger.
OneWeb Internet Speed, Plans, and Cost
Currently, the company advertises download speeds up to 195Mbps; however, the actual speed limits may vary depending on the location and your mobile operator. According to various speed test reviews, for example, the actual download speed reached 150 Mbps, while upload limits vary between 30-70 Mbps. These speeds are more than enough for an average user’s needs, such as streaming videos, making calls, etc. However, since the company does not sell its services directly to the end-users, OneWeb Internet cost will largely depend on the plan type.
Today, available OneWeb Internet plans cover both land and sea, but they differ greatly depending on the sector. For example, there are packages for government clients — mostly for the military sector, covering ground, air, and sea. However, the provider also offers services to commercial clients operating on land (construction, media, mining, transport, agriculture, etc.), at sea (ferries, merchant, cruise, or fishing ships), or in the air (commercial or business aviation). So, there is no single tariff plan that works for everyone — and the equipment necessary to ensure connectivity may also differ depending on the location, goals, etc.
Future Plans & Potential
OneWeb Internet only became available in 2023, and before this became possible, the company saw a series of ups and downs. For example, the operator filed bankruptcy during the Covid pandemic, but investment rounds from the British government and several international conglomerates, including Eutelsat, Bharti Global (India), SoftBank Group (Japan), and Hanwha Group (South Korea), have made future launches possible.
Later, in 2022, the company had to abandon its major launch partner, Roscomos and its Soyuz rockets after Russia violated all possible international laws and invaded Ukraine. However, none of these pitfalls have stopped the British company from implementing its ambitious goals, which certainly inspires respect and admiration.
Today, OneWeb shares belong to several telecommunication companies worldwide, even though the UK government remains the company’s primary supporter. However, the ambitious operator does not intend to stop here and plans to extend its partnership base even further, which makes perfect sense considering its choice of a business model.
OneWeb Internet has already become available worldwide after an August 2023 merger with Eutelsat, and now, the British operator is negotiating with Hughes Network Systems, a geostationary satellite network provider. This means that the British constellation signal will only strengthen in the future, and the latency will keep decreasing as the company strikes more lucrative deals.
All in all, anyone looking for fiberless connectivity in remote rural areas can only benefit from using OneWeb and its partner services. Or you might even be using it already.