UK Wins OneWeb Auction

The UK government’s $500 million bid for the OneWeb satellite constellation, made with Bharti Enterprises, has won the auction for the system in New York.

Bharti is also putting in $500 million.

The UK will take a 45% stake in OneWeb.

The government hopes that the constellation will provide both broadband access and GPS services. However the UK Space Agency says the system cannot provide location signals. OneWeb’s satellites fly at 1,200 km compared to 20,000km for the US GPS and EU Galileo systems.

The aim is to launch 650 satellites. So far 74 have been launched.

Investots in OneWeb includes: Softbank, Airbus, Qualcomm, Intelsat, Bharti Enterprises, Coca Cola, Group Salinas, Hughes Network Systems, and Virgin Group.

The government is now looking to raise the cash to complete OneWeb’s programme.