UK-based OneWeb has announced the successful launch of 36 broadband satellites from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia.

The launch is part of the company’s five to 50 ambition, which enables the start of commercial service by the end of the year.

OneWeb’s satellites separated from the rocket and were dispensed in nine batches over a period of three hours 52 minutes with signal acquisition on all 36 satellites confirmed.

The successful launch brings the company’s total in-orbit constellation to 182 satellites. They will form part of its 648 Low Earth Orbit (LEO) fleet that will deliver high-speed global connectivity, which represents 60 percent of the constellation required to enable its connectivity solution to reach all regions north of 50 degrees latitude by June 2021.

This launch is the third in five planned launches and will enable OneWeb to offer broadband services across the United Kingdom, Alaska, Northern Europe, Greenland, Iceland, the Artic Seas and Canada, and will be switched on before the end of the year.

OneWeb intends to make its global service available in 2022.

“These are exciting times at OneWeb as we get ever closer to bringing our connectivity services to some of the world’s hardest to reach places,” said Neil Masterson, OneWeb chief executive. “With this third successful launch in our ‘Five to 50’ programme, we are rapidly building momentum: we are launching more satellites, demonstrating the network, and announcing more distribution signings around the globe.”

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