According to the FCC order, OneWeb must launch and operate 50% of the maximum number of proposed space stations, or 1,000 satellites, by August 26, 2026.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted OneWeb market access to expand its Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) satellite constellation to 2,000 satellites, according to Via Satellite.
Earlier, OneWeb had submitted a petition to FCC to add a V-band payload to the 720 satellite Ku- and Ka-band constellation, proposing 1,280 additional V-band satellites operating at a nominal altitude of 8,500 km.
According to the FCC order, OneWeb must launch and operate 50% of the maximum number of proposed space stations, or 1,000 satellites, by August 26, 2026. The remaining satellites must be launched and operated by August 26, 2029. OneWeb currently has 74 satellites in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO).
“We are pleased to hear the FCC granted our V-Band application. The V-band is critical for next generation satellite broadband services. OneWeb looks forward to the future growth opportunities this approval will enable as we commercialise our spectrum and execute on our mission to bring low latency connectivity to communities, governments, businesses, and people in the US and around the world,” a OneWeb spokesperson was quoted as saying.
It comes after Amazons Project Kuiper was granted approval in July to build a constellation of 3,236 satellites.
The OneWeb constellation will be authorised by the UK as it is in the process of acquiring the company in a consortium with Bharti Global Limited and Hughes Network Systems.
