South Africa's NewSpace system powers Starlink rival OneWeb

Eutelsat OneWeb, a significant competitor to SpaceX's Starlink, uses satellite components produced by NewSpace Systems, a South African manufacturer of satellite components for international businesses, and is one of Starlink's most significant international competitors at this time receiving essential components from the South African satellite component manufacturer NewSpace Systems.

The company responded that although it has strict NDAs, it can verify the identity of any Starlink competitor it builds when we asked if it makes satellite systems, specifically for Starlink.

According to NewSpace Systems, it supports more than 40 satellite constellations or individual mass-produced satellite “buses”, also known as repeater platforms, which are used by businesses around the world.

“For example, we have been a proud supplier for the first generation of Airbus OneWeb satellites,” the corporation said.

In December 2024, Eutelsat hired Airbus, a European aircraft manufacturer, to build a low-Earth orbit extension for OneWeb. One hundred more satellites were included in the contract.

“Under the contract signed between the two companies, Airbus will build the first batch of Expanse, consisting of a total of 100 satellites, with delivery targeted from the end of 2026,” the company said.

At its newly built 5,200 square meter manufacturing plant in Somerset West, Western Cape, NewSpace Systems produces parts for Airbus.

“Under the contract signed between the two companies, Airbus will build the first batch of Expanse, consisting of a total of 100 satellites, with delivery targeted from the end of 2026,” the company said.

At its newly built 5,200 square meter manufacturing plant in Somerset West, Western Cape, NewSpace Systems produces parts used for Airbus.

It says, “With more than 648 OneWeb satellites launched, their primary mission is to provide widespread, high-speed Internet access around the world, ensuring reliable coverage even in remote areas.”

The company informed members of the press in March that it produces high-precision satellite hardware such as reaction wheels, solar sensors and GPS receivers, with an emphasis on space navigation and orientation.

It described itself as an important supplier to “broadband-from-space” providers. At its Somerset West factory, it manufactures parts for low-Earth-orbit satellite constellations.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and other organizations around the world have used its components on more than 2,500 spacecraft missions to date.

One of the largest low-Earth orbit satellite Internet providers in the world, Eutelsat OneWeb is a part of the Eutelsat Group and is one of the few organizations, other than Starlink, that oversees a constellation of more than 500 satellites.

Currently, the OneWeb satellite constellation consists of more than 648 and at least 648 interconnected small satellites that provide low-latency Internet services to businesses around the world.

The company began moving away from the direct-to-consumer business model in April and is now focusing on business-to-business Internet services for telecom companies.

Tata Group, European airline Volotia, and giant shipping and logistics company CMA CGM are some of the businesses that Eutelsat OneWeb currently has as partners. Additionally, it has achieved widespread reach in South Africa and beyond.

Telecommunications network provider Paratus South Africa has partnered with Eutelsat OneWeb to launch its services in the country in early 2024.

“Paratus South Africa now offers high bandwidth with latency of less than 70 milliseconds through Eutelsat OneWeb's LEO service,” the statement said.

Eva Bernke, who is Eutelsat's CEO, confirmed that Airbus will assist the company in unifying its constellation using technology tailored to the European IRIS2 constellation in 2030.

The EU's response to SpaceX's Starshield, a secure satellite government network, is called Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security via Satellite (IRIS2).

IRIS2 will be used by states in the European Union and some African countries, while Starshield will be used only by the US government.

Bernke added that they look forward to embarking on the next phase of our journey to meet the growing demand for low-Earth orbit capability.

Airbus has been in collaboration with NewSpace Systems for some time, and in 2020 the European giant named it “Best Small Company Performer”.

In addition, the company has provided parts to commercial customers and more than 17 national space agencies, including the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

“We have collaborated with customers like Astroscale whose primary goals are space debris removal, extending the life of satellites, and performing in-orbit observations and docking.”

Eighty percent of its customers were commercial, according to the statement. “Additional commercial customers worth mentioning include AerospaceLab, OHB Sweden, Firefly Aerospace, Synspective, and Berlin Space Technologies.”

While South African manufacturers support the global space economy, Starlink remains blocked locally due to ownership laws, creating opportunities for rivals such as Amazon's Project Kuiper (which is open for compliance), China's SpaceCell (already trademarking in the country), and Vodacom (partnering with Starlink elsewhere in Africa to bypass restrictions).