Brussels: Eutelsat Group, a leading fixed satellite service provider based in France, announced on Tuesday a significant partnership agreement with Intelsat worth $500 million over seven years. This deal aims to leverage Intelsat’s OneWeb Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation.
The agreement, set to commence in mid-2024 with an initial commitment of $250 million, includes an option for an additional $250 million investment, according to Eutelsat. By joining forces with Intelsat, Eutelsat seeks to integrate OneWeb’s LEO network with its existing Geostationary Equatorial Orbit (GEO) and terrestrial networks, thereby enhancing its service offerings.
Intelsat’s CEO, Dave Wajsgras, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership’s potential, stating, “Today’s announcement takes that partnership to a new level, enhancing our ability to offer new, true multi-orbit services and solutions across our portfolio of customers and business segments.”
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The Eutelsat Group, formed through the merger of Eutelsat and OneWeb in 2023, boasts the distinction of being the first fully integrated GEO-LEO satellite operator. With a fleet of 35 GEO satellites and a LEO constellation comprising over 600 satellites, the group is poised to deliver innovative satellite solutions across various sectors and markets.
Despite concerns arising from delays in OneWeb’s LEO activities, Eutelsat remains optimistic about the future. The company confirmed that OneWeb’s ground roll-out remains on track, with expectations to achieve 90% coverage by mid-2024.
