Press release —
Eutelsat selects Arianespace for two upcoming OneWeb LEO launches
- Two dedicated Ariane 64 launches secured for 2027 and 2028
- Supporting the renewal and service continuity of Eutelsat’s OneWeb LEO network
- Adding further European launch capacity to Eutelsat’s diversified options for access to Space
Paris, 10 September 2026 – Eutelsat (ISIN: FR0010221234 – Euronext Paris / London Stock Exchange: ETL) has selected Arianespace to conduct two dedicated launches for its OneWeb Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation.
Scheduled for 2027 and 2028, the missions will launch OneWeb satellites aboard Ariane 64 rockets, the most powerful version of Ariane 6, from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
The two missions support Eutelsat’s plan to progressively renew the OneWeb constellation and ensure service continuity of its LEO services, with 440 satellites already procured and under construction.
Together with launch capacity already secured through other providers, they provide additional diversity and flexibility in Eutelsat’s access to space options as it manages the deployment of future satellites. The missions will also support preparations for the next phase of Eutelsat’s LEO roadmap, including in the IRIS2 programme.
Arianespace has supported the expansion of Eutelsat’s GEO fleet and the initial deployment of OneWeb. The new missions extend that longstanding relationship, bringing together strategic European capabilities in satellite communications and access to space.
Jean-François Fallacher, Chief Executive Officer of Eutelsat, said: “Access to space is a critical enabler for a satellite operator. Eutelsat and Arianespace have a long and important history in both GEO and LEO, and we are delighted to take this partnership into its next chapter. These launches will play an important role as we renew OneWeb and secure the long-term future of our LEO network. They also bring together two critical European capabilities -- satellite connectivity and access to space -- reinforcing Europe’s resilience and independence in space.”
David Cavaillolès, CEO of Arianespacesaid, “We are particularly proud to be working with Eutelsat once again, having supported the deployment of OneWeb from its earliest stages. This agreement opens a new chapter in the shared history of Arianespace and Eutelsat, while demonstrating Ariane 6’s ability to meet the needs of large LEO constellations. It also goes to the heart of our mission: giving Europe autonomous access to space and the launch capability to deploy its most strategic infrastructure.”
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About Eutelsat
Eutelsat is a global leader in satellite communications, delivering connectivity and broadcast services worldwide. Eutelsat was formed through the combination of the Company and OneWeb in 2023, becoming the first fully integrated GEO-LEO satellite operator with a fleet of 31 Geostationary (GEO) satellites and a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation of more than 600 satellites. Eutelsat addresses the needs of customers in four key verticals of Video, where it distributes around 5,800 television channels, and the high-growth connectivity markets of Mobile Connectivity, Fixed Connectivity, and Government Services. Eutelsat's unique suite of in-orbit assets and ground infrastructure enables it to deliver integrated solutions to meet the needs of global customers. The Company is headquartered in Paris and Eutelsat employs more than 1,600 people across more than 75 countries. Eutelsat is committed to delivering safe, resilient, and environmentally sustainable connectivity to help bridge the digital divide. The Company is listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ticker: ETL) and the London Stock Exchange (ticker: ETL).
Find out more at www.eutelsat.com
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DISCLAIMER
The forward-looking statements included herein are for illustrative purposes only and are based on management’s views and assumptions as of the date of this document. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks. For illustrative purposes only, such risks include but are not limited to: risks related to the health crisis; operational risks related to satellite failures or impaired satellite performance, or failure to roll out the deployment plan as planned and within the expected timeframe; risks related to the trend in the satellite telecommunications market resulting from increased competition or technological changes affecting the market; risks related to the international dimension of the Group's customers and activities; risks related to the adoption of international rules on frequency coordination and financial risks related, inter alia, to the financial guarantee granted to the Intergovernmental Organization's closed pension fund, and foreign exchange risk. Eutelsat Communications expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any projections, forecasts or estimates contained in this document to reflect any change in events, conditions, assumptions, or circumstances on which any such statements are based, unless so required by applicable law. The information contained in this document is not based on historical fact and should not be construed as a guarantee that the facts or data mentioned will occur. This information is based on data, assumptions and estimates that the Group considers as reasonable.
