OneWeb and Airbus open high-volume satellite production facility in Florida

EXPLORATION PARK, Fla., – OneWeb Satellites – a joint venture of OneWeb and Airbus – officially opened the world’s first high-volume, high-speed advanced satellite production facility to bring internet connectivity to everyone, everywhere.

Historically, satellites are custom built, costing tens of millions of dollars to build, and taking more than a year to produce a single one. The OneWeb Satellites facility is the first to employ industrial-scale mass production techniques for satellites, enabling reduced costs and production times that can deliver one satellite per production shift or two a day, while expanding internet connectivity and making space technology far more accessible.

The facility’s production capabilities will first support the rapid scaling of the OneWeb network, starting with a constellation of 650 satellites and scaling to 1,980 satellites delivering global connectivity.

With half the world’s population unconnected and inconsistent connectivity persisting as people travel more at sea and in the skies, the high-performance communication satellites built in this facility will enable high-speed internet access that can unlock healthcare, education, and economic advancements.

The 105,500 square foot production facility, which has two production lines capable of producing two satellites a day, is helping to revitalize Florida’s Space Coast with 250 new high-tech jobs and 3,000 indirect jobs through the supply chain.