Eutelsat is a product of the recent consolidation phase in the connectivity space. It formed as Eutelsat OneWeb in 2023 following a merger between leading European GEO satellite provider Eutelsat Communications and OneWeb, the global LEO satellite communications network.

The goal was to achieve scale with financial strength and capitalise on the growing opportunity in business aviation connectivity. It has since been rebranded simply as Eutelsat.

OneWeb remains as the name of the LEO constellation of more than 600 satellites offering global, low-latency connectivity. The company has plans to launch additional satellites to refresh the constellation, with a focus on continuous system improvements.

It is also planning technology upgrades including 5G on-ground integration and compatibility with Europe’s planned IRIS² multi-orbit constellation in 2030. About 200 aircraft are operating with Eutelsat connectivity today, with more than 1,000 in the backlog for installation.

“The advances we’ve made in the last few years would previously have taken decades to achieve,” says Jason Sperry, head of Business Aviation at Eutelsat.

With significant improvements in hardware and evolving consumer demands, business aviation connectivity has witnessed dramatic evolution. “This evolution has really brought the capability on the aircraft to do exactly what you do in your home or your office,” Sperry notes. “That generational shift has been vitally important and will be for customers moving forward who expect to stay continuously connected throughout their entire journey on an aircraft.”

The company is the only constellation service network provider that has LEO and GEO satellites. It also has strategic partnerships with leading avionics suppliers to deliver business aviation-specific terminals and next-generation electronically steered antenna (ESA). ESAs are lighter and have a lower profile than legacy units. In terms of service, Eutelsat offers flexible data plans and scalability via its distribution partner Gogo, which can be tailored to aircraft of any size.

These partnerships are central to Eutelsat strategy. “Our approach is kind of twofold: using the latest technology with electronically steered antennas to open up the market to customers that have never had this capability before; and then using industry partners such as Gogo, who are tried and tested leaders in this segment to really bring the hardware, the service and the support together,” Sperry outlines.

He adds: “Support is one of the most important features for these aircraft as customers demand consistent connectivity performance.”

Looking to the future, Sperry says Eutelsat is well placed to deal with any changes which might come through technological innovation and further industry consolidation. He also suggests improvements will likely be predominantly driven by software enhancements.

“As we develop different technologies, you’re going to see a lot more software enhancements rather than hardware. These will drive dynamic changes, evolving our services and capabilities across the constellation,” Sperry predicts.

Alongside software, the company says it is positioning itself for sustained growth through investment in its satellite infrastructure. “We’re looking to refresh our constellation over the coming years and have secured investments to help do that,” he explains.