OneWeb: UK Invests £400m in Bankrupt Satellite Rival to EU Galileo System
The UK government has invested £400m in OneWeb, a US-based company that was declared bankrupt earlier this year. The move comes after Brexit locked the UK out of the EU's satellite navigation system, Galileo. The investment was made in partnership with India and will give the UK a 20% stake in OneWeb. The company plans to launch a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites to provide high-speed internet access globally.
The investment is seen as a strategic move by the UK to secure its own satellite capabilities and reduce its dependence on other countries. OneWeb's satellite network could also be used for military and intelligence purposes. The UK's investment in OneWeb is part of a larger plan to boost the country's space industry and create thousands of new jobs in the sector.
What is OneWeb?
OneWeb is a US-based company that was founded in 2012 with the goal of providing internet access to remote and underserved areas around the world. The company plans to launch a constellation of 648 low-Earth orbit satellites to provide high-speed internet access globally. The satellites will orbit at a height of around 1,200km above the Earth's surface, which is much lower than traditional geostationary satellites. This will allow for faster internet speeds and lower latency.
OneWeb's satellite network could also be used for military and intelligence purposes. The company has already signed a contract with the US Department of Defense to provide satellite internet services to US troops around the world. The UK's investment in OneWeb is seen as a strategic move to secure its own satellite capabilities and reduce its dependence on other countries.
In Conclusion
The UK's investment in OneWeb is a significant move for the country's space industry and its future in satellite technology. OneWeb's satellite network has the potential to provide high-speed internet access to remote and underserved areas around the world, as well as being used for military and intelligence purposes. The investment is part of a larger plan by the UK government to boost the country's space industry and create thousands of new jobs in the sector.