OneWeb and Eutelsat merger sets up a European satellite internet giant to take on SpaceX, Amazon

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The merger of OneWeb and Eutelsat will create a player in global internet connections that will compete with Starlink and Amazon. OneWeb will continue to operate as its own brand under Eutelsat, as the two companies say they will tie together satellites that offer faster connections with less lag and more capacity.

Eutelsat provides television and internet via 36 satellites.

Project Kuiper has booked 83 launch flights over the course of five years to deliver its planned constellation of 3,236 satellites. Starlink has already launched thousands of satellites, has over 250,000 subscribers, and is offering high-speed internet service in dozens of countries. Take a look at our video to learn more about the current state of things and the impact of satellite internet.

The chairman of Eutelsat said that the combination of the two businesses would deliver a global first. The commercialisation of OneWeb's fleet will be accelerated by this combination.

OneWeb was the first to provide internet to the northern part of the world. The company announced in July of last year that it had completed its "Five to 50" mission to provide coverage from the North Pole to the 50th Parallel. The planned launches from Russia were cut off after the country invaded Ukraine. Russia held the launches in an attempt to get OneWeb to agree to their demands.

The merger of OneWeb and Eutelsat will give current OneWeb shareholders a 50 percent stake in the satellite company. In order to evaluate any threats the merger could pose to national security, it is necessary to navigate the UK's National Security and Investments Act.