OneWeb (formerly known as WorldVu) is a UK-based enterprise that launches orbiting satellites that work to provide broad Internet access to users from anywhere on the planet.
The history of the emergence and development of Oneweb
Initially, in 2017, the Oneweb joint venture and the Gonets satellite system joint-stock company were organized in order to develop Internet access in our country through satellites operating at high speed. Initially, OneWeb had a 60% stake in the joint venture, but in 2019, the ownership stake in the authorized capital decreased to 49% in relation to a participant from Russia. Over the past 3 years, the completed applications of the Anglo-Russian company “Oneweb” for the purchase of frequency resources have been considered many times by the State Commission on Radio Frequencies of Russia (SCRF), but no approval was taken on this application. As a result, the application was withdrawn for “clarification of information based on the conditions of the country’s legislation.” OneWeb recently announced its intention to withdraw from the OneWeb JV, which was organized together with the Gonets satellite system owned by Russia. This news was announced by the English website “The Daily Telegraph”, referring to information from representatives of the company.
OneWeb problems, bankruptcy
In March 2020, CNews wrote about the bankruptcy proceedings against OneWeb, associated with the huge costs of the enterprise and a strong competitive environment for similar serious projects of other market participants Amazon and SpaceX. A little later, the company asked the leadership of the state of England for borrowed funds in the amount of 500 million pounds, which is approximately $ 645 million, possible for issuance within the complex of providing finance for various projects for $ 2.2 billion from individual sponsors. Based on information about the amended contract between Arianespace and OneWeb, as a result, the development and shipment of OneWeb satellites will decrease by 3 shipments. Based on the modified OneWeb solution, the effective operation of the Internet using a satellite constellation was to begin in 2021, with the capture of the territories of the planet located in the north, which includes Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Great Britain, other areas of the Arctic Ocean, as well as northern part of Europe. OneWeb satellite systems with 2 batteries powered by the sun and a plasma motor are sent into an orbit of 1,200 km above the earth’s territory, the planned life of a particular device is about 5 years. [caption id="attachment_2880" align="aligncenter" width="893"]
OneWeb Satellites factory in Florida, USA [/ caption] In the 3rd quarter of 2020, OneWeb seeks through the court to obtain an auxiliary source of funds in the amount of $ 235 million (6 transfers from $ 15 million to $ 65 million before the end of 2020) to continue developing the constellation of satellite systems. The court did not object to funding OneWeb for an additional $9.75 million in support, which became a guarantee for Arianespace. This money helped to start organizing the launch of OneWeb satellites using Soyuz rocket launchers. According to a budget document shown in bankruptcy arbitration, OneWeb management planned to use $133 million to build new satellite systems during Q4 2020. The other $37 million will be used to prepare the launch of installations into space. Other costs are intended for salaries of employees,Putting satellites into orbit
Finally, Arianespace organizes 16 launches into space for OneWeb using Soyuz rocket launchers, only one of them will take 35 satellite systems into space. 2 out of 16 Soyuz will be powered by OneWeb satellite devices launched from the European Space Center in Guiana, others from Baikonur and the Vostochny platform. [caption id="attachment_2890" align="aligncenter" width="600"]
Soyuz-2.1b with 34 OneWeb systems prior to launch. Baikonur, Q1 2020 [/ caption] As a result, it is planned to organize a OneWeb space group of 650 devices that they want to complete in December 2022. OneWeb has now deployed 74 low orbit broadband satellites in space.Prospects and plans
Launch of oneweb satellites in chronological order [/ caption] In May 2020, CNews also transmitted information about OneWeb’s current decisions to increase the orbital group of Internet satellite systems to 48,000. To do this, the company sent the necessary application to the FC for telecommunications in the United States (FCC). Interest in expanding the system of satellites in OneWeb was explained by an increase in the need for Internet resources due to restrictive measures established around the world to prevent the spread of Covid 19 infection. [caption id=" attachment_2881" align="aligncenter" width="591"]
Planned launch of oneweb satellites in chronological order
Connecting users in remote cities and villages to broadband Internet
Users in remote locations of the Russian Federation and other countries of the world can connect a modern TV, phone, PC or laptop to satellites through the user’s low-cost OneWeb satellite terminal, which consists of a satellite dish, a receiver and a Wi-Fi / LTE / 3G communication unit. Only satellite operators can legally buy Oneweb equipment in Russia for 2021, the situation with the temporary bankruptcy of the company, Covid remains tense.
OneWeb Satellites as a division
To organize the Internet through satellite systems throughout the country, Oneweb LLC tried to get the required frequencies within 14-30 GHz (Earth – space). At the end of 2017, the State Commission for Radio Engineering Frequencies (SCRF) refused the Oneweb application. The conclusion of such a refusal decision is possibly due to the fact that there was still an application for the requested frequencies from the Express-RV company, which planned to provide stable communications to the regions of the Arctic. At the beginning of 2019, the Cosmic Svyaz company, which is responsible for passing the stages of the Express-RV project, acquired the necessary frequencies, despite the fact that Roscosmos did not approve of such a decision. In the 4th quarter of 2018, the Federal Security Service of the country (FSB) did not agree with the inclusion of the Russian side in the OneWeb project. According to agency sources, the satellite network is often used in intelligence, which is to the detriment of the state protection of Russia. Among other things, the military considers the launch of such a project a possible threat to the successful operation of Russian mobile operators, which is most relevant in uninhabited and difficult-to-pass areas, as well as getting citizens into a bind from foreign communication services.
As an alternative solution for activities in OneWeb, the FSB put forward the idea of organizing its own communication system via satellite with the inclusion of China and India, which do not conduct aggressive activities against our country. The head of Roskosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, emphasized that it is possible to organize such a project without the Russian side, however, as a result, it loses the opportunity to somehow influence the situation. At the very beginning of 2019, it was clear that the State Committee for Radio Frequencies prohibits the import of terminal devices necessary for cellular communication via satellites to Russia for people who are not related to companies providing communication services. OneWeb, according to Reuters, has plans to reach a compromise solution with the Russian authorities, reducing its own share in the assets of the joint venture below the set figure. By February 2019, the joint venture will come under Russian supervision. The share of Roskosmos in OneWeb increased to 51%, and the share of OneWeb decreased to 49%. In August 2019, the Oneweb JV withdrew its application for the acquisition of frequencies in the country for a period in order to complete the work on the basis of the current conditions of Russian legislation.
Competitors in the Russian Federation and the world
The company’s main competitors are Amazon, with its own Kuiper solution and announced in the 2nd quarter of 2019, and SpaceX, which was created by Elon Musk, who also has shares in electric car maker Tesla, who is starting to develop his satellite Internet project.
Last news
A new batch of OneWeb communication satellites in England was brought to the Vostochny Cosmodrome for a launch planned in May. “36 space devices of the OneWeb enterprise were delivered to the Ignatievo airport, located in Blagoveshchensk, on the An-124-100 aircraft,” the information on the website of the state corporation Roscosmos reads. Separately, it is highlighted that the cargo arrived at the cosmodrome, accompanied by specialists from the Vostochny space center. The launch of Oneweb from the Vostochny Cosmodrome on April 26, 2021: https://youtu.be/gU3CQtLXOc8 It is very important for the Russian economy that there are more companies like OneWeb, then our country will develop faster, because now the speed of the Internet and coverage satellite communication very much depends.
