Airbus Defence and Space and OneWeb announced the creation of OneWeb Satellites. The new joint venture will be equally owned by Airbus and OneWeb.

Led by Brian Holz as CEO, OneWeb Satellites will design and build the 900 satelites of the OneWeb constellation, offering high-speed internet with global coverage. The company will also be able to build satellites, platforms and equipment to be marketed by Airbus Defence and Space to other operators of future constellations.

OneWeb Satellites will undertake design activities for the entire satellite fleet and the manufacture of the first 10 flight models will take place in France, with the first ever mass production of the operational satellites planned for North America. Each satellite will weigh less than 150 kg and will operate in low Earth orbit. They will be launched by Arianespace and Virgin Galactic starting from 2018 and reach their orbital positions using electrical propulsion.