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OneWeb

OneWeb to exit bankruptcy soon

UK-based mega-constellation satellite operator OneWeb has received various US government approvals for it to exit its Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The approvals include the FCC which sanctioned the purchase by the UK government and Bharti Global this week. The FCC’s decision came in the form of an ‘Order’ on October 26th which gave permission for OneWeb […]

October 29, 2020

EU to seek pan-European broadband-by-satellite system?

ASD-Eurospace, Europe’s space industry trade association, issued what it called an ‘Industry Manifesto’ on October 15 which called for a “resilient satellite system for secure connectivity […] to make Europe fit for the Digital Age”. The document calls for a constellation of Low Earth orbiting (LEO) satellites, owned by the European Commission, and serving military, […]

October 19, 2020By Chris Forrester

MP criticises UK’s OneWeb purchase

A UK opposition MP has savaged the UK government’s involvement in satellite company OneWeb, currently in Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganisation. The UK is putting at least £400 million into the company (with India’s Bharti matching the investment). OneWeb is likely to emerge from bankruptcy before the end of this year. Chi Onwurah, a Labour party […]

October 16, 2020By Chris Forrester

Virgin Orbit wants more cash

Sir Richard Branson’s aircraft-based satellite launching project, Virgin Orbit, is looking to raise up to $200 million, according to a report in the WSJ. Many of Branson’s projects, not least his airline businesses, have been hit hard by the Coronavirus. The WSJ says that Virgin Orbit (which suspends a powerful rocket from beneath one of […]

October 12, 2020By Chris Forrester

Concerns over ‘flat panel’ LEO antennas

If there’s one vital component that Elon Musk and the likes of Jeff Bezos as well as Telesat, OneWeb and others need it’s a low-cost consumer friendly phased array flat-panel antenna. Yoel Gat, founder of Gilat Satellite Networks (and now CEO at SatixFy, a designer of flat-panel antennas) says that the dream of a sub-$300 […]

October 9, 2020

OneWeb severs Russian ties

OneWeb, in the process of exiting its Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring, has ended its controversial joint-venture with Russian Space Agency Roscosmos. OneWeb’s 49 per cent stake would now be transferred to a Roscosmos subsidiary company Gonets which was already the majority partner. One of the key buyers of OneWeb’s assets is the UK government which […]

October 6, 2020By Chris Forrester

UK & Bharti get Court approval for OneWeb purchase

The US Bankruptcy Court has given its formal approval for the £800 million purchase of satellite company OneWeb, now in the final stages of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganisation. The buyer will be a new company (‘BidCo’) comprising the UK Government and India’s Bharti Global. Each will hold about 45 per cent of the company’s […]

October 5, 2020By Chris Forrester

UK U-turns on OneWeb for sat nav

The UK government is rethinking its commitment to an independent satellite navigation system. The review could mean that UK will not use OneWeb for its independent satellite navigation system. The UK’s access to the European Space Agency’s Galileo system ends on December 31st with the UK’s exit from the European Union. The British government has […]

September 28, 2020By Chris Forrester

OneWeb gets extra $235m financing

OneWeb, with its Chapter 11 bankruptcy ending the next three months, has succeeded in obtaining an additional $235 million (€201.8m) in ‘Debtor in Possession’ financing. OneWeb’s bankruptcy court approved the request last week in order to maintain output of its satellites under construction in Florida, plus day-to-day expenses as well as ongoing development work on […]

September 28, 2020By Chris Forrester

OneWeb’s creditors trim demands

OneWeb’s bankruptcy court heard this week that the company’s unsecured creditors will drop their $1.6 billion claim, and instead adopt a mediated global settlement. OneWeb has asked its bankruptcy court for permission to modify various disclosures which would reflect the new settlement which reflects the decision of the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors. OneWeb had […]

September 24, 2020By Chris Forrester