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OneWeb

OneWeb wants changes to import rules

OneWeb, currently proceeding slowly through its Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganisation, is asking the US government to relax its rules on importing satellite components and materials under its Foreign Trade Zone regulations. The Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) rules permit businesses to lower import duties and easier customs processes. OneWeb has made its application via its joint-venture […]

August 20, 2020By Chris Forrester

UK didn’t consult experts on OneWeb deal

The British government did not consult the Ministry of Defence or other senior recognised scientific advisors prior to making a £500 million deal for the bankrupt OneWeb satellite business. The NewStatesman news magazine, in a Technology report, states that the investment was driven through by Dominic Cummings, the controversial advisor to PM Boris Johnson, despite […]

August 12, 2020By Chris Forrester

OneWeb investors saw bankruptcy coming

A filing to the US bankruptcy court handling OneWeb’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy on August 3rd states that investors in OneWeb saw the company’s bankruptcy as likely from the middle of 2018. The key investors were SoftBank, Airbus, Qualcomm, Banco Azteca, and the Government of the Republic of Rwanda and the filing argues that these controlling […]

August 5, 2020By Chris Forrester

OneWeb extension for Chapter 11 plan

Would-be mega-constellation OneWeb, which is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy organisation, has been granted a 90-day extension of the timetable to produce a formal plan as to how it might exit Chapter 11. OneWeb is in the process of being acquired by the UK government along with Indian telco Bharti Global who have both promised to […]

July 31, 2020

New OneWeb: Hughes is a likely winner

Putting $50 million into the consortium buying bankrupt OneWeb could be extremely lucrative for EchoStar subsidiary Hughes Network Systems/Hughes Connects (HNS). Hughes was an original investor in OneWeb and is now likely to gain $300 million in contracts for at least some of OneWeb’s important ground segment installations. HNS, via EchoStar, signed a contract with […]

July 28, 2020

EchoStar/Hughes join new OneWeb consortium

EchoStar-owned Hughes Network Systems is joiining the new consortium buying bankrupt OneWeb. Hughes will join the UK government and Bharti Global as part-owners. Hughes will, in principle, invest $50 million into the consortium. “Additionally,” says the Hughes statement, “[We] will continue as a trusted technology and distribution partner to OneWeb, the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) […]

July 27, 2020By Chris Forrester

Official: ‘UK OneWeb cash poor value’

UK senior civil servants have formally warned the government that its commitment to put $500 million into a joint venture with Bharti Global to buy bankrupt satellite operator OneWeb has a high risk of losing all the investment. OneWeb is currently totally unprofitable and it is likely to need considerable further investments for satellite building […]

July 23, 2020By Chris Forrester

UK plan for OneWeb rival to Galileo in doubt

OneWeb, now in the process of being acquired by the British government and Indian telco giant Bharti Global, is going ahead with building satellites ahead of any decision to incorporate the UK’s plans for a rival global positioning system to rival Europe’s Galileo. OneWeb’s bankruptcy court permitted the British and Indian joint-venture, (called ‘BidCo 100’) […]

July 20, 2020

SoftBank to dispose of ARM?

Japanese conglomerate SoftBank is reportedly looking to sell or restructure its stake in UK chipset maker ARM. The WSJ reports that ARM has already announced plans to restructure itself by shifting two of its Internet of Things businesses into SoftBank. SoftBank acquired ARM some 4 years ago paying $32 billion for the business but is […]

July 15, 2020By Chris Forrester

US court approves UK/Bharti purchase of OneWeb

OneWeb is now well on its way to being bought by a joint-venture between the UK government and India telco Bharti Global. A US bankruptcy court approved the sale of OneWeb to the consortium on July 10th in return for a guaranteed $1 billion sum which will be paid 50/50 by the UK and Bharti. […]

July 13, 2020By Chris Forrester