OneWeb confirms successful deployment of 16 satellites including next-generation JoeySat

OneWeb Launch 19 brings the total OneWeb constellation to 634 satellites, increasing redundancy and resiliency as global coverage nears activation. This launch also includes innovative JoeySat, a demonstration satellite previewing next-generation capabilities.
OneWeb confirms successful deployment of 16 satellites including next-generation JoeySat

OneWeb, the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communications company, today confirmed the successful deployment of 16 satellites that will provide increased resilience and redundancy to the OneWeb constellation as the company progresses toward global services. Included in this key batch is JoeySat, a satellite that will test an innovative beam-hopping capability which will allow satellites to switch between different places on Earth and adjust the strength of the communications signals based on customer needs or demands. Liftoff occurred on 20 May at 6:16 PT (local) from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. OneWeb’s satellites separated successfully from the vehicle and were dispensed in eight phases over a period of 1 hour and 26 minutes, and signal acquisition on all 16 satellites has been confirmed. The launch marked OneWeb’s fourth successful launch with SpaceX. With 634 satellites now in orbit, OneWeb is on track to deliver global coverage this year and is already scaling services for customers worldwide. With the addition of the satellites deployed from this launch, OneWeb will increase the resiliency and redundancy in the constellation as it expands services to its growing base of enterprise and government customers.


The 16th satellite launched today is nicknamed JoeySat. Developed through the European Space Agency and UKSA Sunrise Partnership program, JoeySat carries an innovative payload design that will demonstrate digital regenerative processing, electronically steered multi-beam arrays, and digital beamforming and beam-hopping technologies. These capabilities, planned for OneWeb’s Gen 2 constellation, will offer more flexibility and capacity to customers, optimizing resources to manage real-time surges in commercial demand or to enable rapid responses to emergencies such as natural disasters.

Our Sunrise program partner, Satixfy UK, developed this new digital payload in the UK. JoeySat is also an integral component of the End-to-End system validations, testing innovative features, including 5G Pilot Tests, which will be performed in collaboration with the University of Surrey UK, Celestia UK, and Satixfy UK. The aim is to create an interoperable network integrating space and ground assets by which OneWeb will be able to manage backhaul to support 5G connectivity seamlessly.

Also on board, JoeySat is a Radiation Monitor, developed by partners Oledcomm and Advacam, which will measure and monitor the radiation environment in LEO and provide critical information to OneWeb and the scientific community for future missions.

Neil Masterson, Chief Executive Officer of OneWeb, commented: “We are excited to see the successful completion of our 19th launch, which would not have been possible without our committed team and our enormously skilled launch partners. We have made tremendous progress in scaling our services, and today’s launch is a testament to our commitment to continue improving our service to our customers. Never ones to rest on our laurels, we also view this launch as proof positive of our drive to innovate, as we test new technologies that will usher in the future of our connectivity capabilities and services. We now look ahead to scaling our services as well as making important advancements in the future of connectivity.”

Source: OneWeb Press releases Read More


Recent Content

Connecting the unconnected requires more than just broadband buildout. National digital inclusion strategies focus on affordability, digital skills, devices, and sustainable infrastructure to empower all communities. Learn how federal programs, state initiatives, and public-private partnerships are reshaping broadband access across America.
The FCC has launched a formal review to modernize its satellite spectrum sharing rules, addressing outdated EPFD limits and enabling more efficient broadband delivery. The proposed changes target the 10.7-12.7 GHz, 17.3-18.6 GHz, and 19.7-20.2 GHz bands, and follow calls from industry leaders like SpaceX for reforms that support next-generation satellite networks. The initiative is expected to enhance competition and fuel U.S. leadership in space innovation.
Legacy broadband networks are struggling to meet today’s demands. Open architectures — modular, interoperable, and standards-based — are revolutionizing broadband by promoting flexibility, cost-efficiency, and faster innovation. Learn how service providers can leverage open broadband strategies to scale, improve customer experiences, and build resilient, future-proof infrastructures ready for the digital economy.
Batelco by Beyon and Nokia are partnering to launch Bahrain’s first private 5G network at Aluminum Bahrain (Alba). The network will drive smart manufacturing through real-time monitoring, automation, and AI-driven analytics—paving the way for Alba’s digital transformation and advancing Bahrain’s Industry 4.0 strategy.
Rakuten Mobile and AST SpaceMobile completed Japan’s first satellite video call using unmodified smartphones in April 2025. This test marks a major advancement toward Rakuten’s Saikyo Satellite Service, set to launch in 2026, which will expand mobile coverage across remote and disaster-prone regions using AST’s LEO satellite network.
AT&T reported strong Q1 2025 earnings with EPS of $0.51 and $30.6B in revenue, boosted by 324K new postpaid wireless subscribers and 181K FWA additions. The telecom giant also expanded its fiber footprint by 600,000 locations and reaffirmed its commitment to broadband growth and copper retirement by 2029.
Whitepaper
Telecom networks are facing unprecedented complexity with 5G, IoT, and cloud services. Traditional service assurance methods are becoming obsolete, making AI-driven, real-time analytics essential for competitive advantage. This independent industry whitepaper explores how DPUs, GPUs, and Generative AI (GenAI) are enabling predictive automation, reducing operational costs, and improving service quality....
Whitepaper
Explore the collaboration between Purdue Research Foundation, Purdue University, Ericsson, and Saab at the Aviation Innovation Hub. Discover how private 5G networks, real-time analytics, and sustainable innovations are shaping the "Airport of the Future" for a smarter, safer, and greener aviation industry....
Article & Insights
This article explores the deployment of 5G NR Transparent Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs), detailing the architecture's advantages and challenges. It highlights how this "bent-pipe" NTN approach integrates ground-based gNodeB components with NGSO satellite constellations to expand global connectivity. Key challenges like moving beam management, interference mitigation, and latency are discussed, underscoring...

Download Magazine

With Subscription

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Scroll to Top