
OneWeb, the British operator of a low Earth orbit (LEO) broadband network, has launched a free trial offer for maritime customers. The company recently expanded its network coverage to include a larger portion of the northern hemisphere, now reaching down to 35 degrees latitude. This expansion enables coverage across Europe and the upper United States. OneWeb’s network has 634 satellites in LEO, and it is currently in the process of finalizing the necessary ground stations for global coverage, which is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
The “try before you buy” deal for maritime customers lasts for 45 days and is facilitated through OneWeb’s network of distribution partners. The financial costs for OneWeb’s enterprise-grade maritime services, which promise speeds of at least 100 megabits per second (Mbps), have not been disclosed.
In comparison, SpaceX’s Starlink LEO constellation, another provider of global connectivity, offers maritime services starting at $250 per month. Starlink advertises download speeds of up to 220 Mbps and requires a one-time hardware fee of $2,500, which includes an antenna built in-house.
Kymeta, based in the United States, and Intellian, based in South Korea, are the providers of antennas for OneWeb’s maritime services. These antennas will enable connectivity for maritime customers using OneWeb’s low Earth orbit (LEO) broadband network.
In addition to the maritime service announcement, OneWeb also revealed its plans to expand its distribution partnership with Hughes Network Systems. Hughes, an investor in OneWeb through its parent company EchoStar, will provide global inflight connectivity (IFC) services to airlines once OneWeb’s LEO services are available next year. Hughes has developed an electronically steered antenna specifically designed for the partnership, allowing aircraft to connect to both LEO and geostationary orbit (GEO) satellites.
Depending on the specific requirements of airlines, the partnership aims to offer a choice between a LEO-only solution or a hybrid service that combines both LEO and GEO connectivity.
OneWeb’s range of services extends beyond maritime and inflight connectivity. They also offer fixed and mobile land-based connectivity services for enterprises and governments.
Hughes, in addition to its involvement in providing inflight connectivity, has played a significant role in engineering OneWeb’s gateways. As a distribution partner, Hughes is responsible for distributing OneWeb’s fixed satellite services in the United States and India. Furthermore, Hughes distributes OneWeb’s connectivity solutions to the U.S. Department of Defense, catering to their specific communication needs.