Eutelsat launches OneWeb Internet Access - a new and exciting product in its growing portfolio of connectivity services. This is a new and innovative plug-and-play managed service that is designed to address new and evolving demands among customers in the maritime sector and beyond. 

Customers can accelerate their digital transformation and response to changing operational requirements at greater speed and with greater confidence. 

OneWeb Internet Access combines advanced satellite technology with a uniquely flexible service. No need for new investment in infrastructure. Customers plug into dedicated Internet Access Points of Presence (PoPs) in the Eutelsat network for immediate service.  

“Start simple, scale strategically.”

Carrying out upgrades to legacy communications networks can take time to develop and deploy. Just when speed can offer a defining competitive advantage, organisations must first resolve existing complexities as part of their network modernisation programme. 

OneWeb Internet Access (OIA) is a powerful solution for this familiar challenge, and the latest addition to Eutelsat’s exciting portfolio of LEO connectivity services. This is a turnkey, ready-to-deploy solution; that is purpose-built to help customers of all sizes stay ahead.

Not every business or organisation requires the same level of control over its network architecture; OneWeb Internet is designed with that flexibility in mind. As a plug-and-play connectivity upgrade, OneWeb Internet Access is designed so customers can adapt and respond faster and more cost-effectively. Our “start simple, scale strategically” approach enables them to align connectivity with evolving operational and technical maturity. Organisations can rapidly enter new markets and enhance performance today, while retaining the flexibility to expand and build out their own infrastructure over time and at their own pace.   

Immediate Value

OneWeb Internet Access fundamentally changes the deployment mode. Eutelsat’s ground segment now includes dedicated Internet Access Points of Presence (PoPs) to provide you with plug-and-play instant access to managed, high-performance connectivity services globally*. 

They remove the need for you to build or interconnect to your own PoP, which means no complex infrastructure planning cycles; and no significant upfront investments or drawn-out timelines for long-term infrastructure projects to complete.

Simplifying the complexity of network management this way allows you to focus on your priority operations and commercial roll-out activities.

Partners and customers can act now. A choice of Internet Access service plans to support both fixed and mobility use cases are readily available through our digital products.

Key benefits

For customers under pressure to do more with less and scale their operations without infrastructure bottlenecks, this combination of performance, speed, and cost efficiency is transformative.    

Reduced time to market – OneWeb Internet Access eliminates the delays associated with network enablement by leveraging existing infrastructure. This enables organisations to launch new services, enter new markets, or digitise operations far faster than traditional approaches allow.    

Reduced CAPEX – Traditional network expansion requires capital investment—particularly when deploying or interconnecting PoPs. Internet Access removes that burden. The infrastructure comes as part of this managed service, with a predictable cost model that is aligned with operational usage. This can free up capital for your core business priorities.     

Service maintenance and support – With OIA you can expect automatic capacity monitoring and optimiszation; centralised service management; end-to-end service under a single contract and dedicated support and service delivery management    

Self-service plans – We offer OneWeb Internet Access service plans tailored to a range of use cases via our digital products. Customers match connectivity performance to their operational requirements, and select flexible service plans that they can scale with demand. 

Results

Ultimately, connectivity is only valuable if it drives measurable business outcomes. OneWeb Internet Access delivers: 

• Faster decision-making through real-time data access 
• Improved operational efficiency via connected assets 
• Enhanced safety and compliance 
• Better customer and employee experiences 
• Ability to transition to self-managed interconnect models over time

Find out more about our ready-made, low-risk, high-impact pathway to more powerful communications. 

* Excluding jurisdictions subject to trade embargoes, economic sanctions, or where specific regulatory licensing requirements apply. 

For the French Navy's Force d'Action Navale, and specifically the Frégate Guépratte, Eutelsat's OneWeb Low Earth Orbit (LEO) connectivity is helping change what is possible at sea, supporting both mission-critical operations and the daily lives of the crew.

From limited bandwidth to always-on satellite internet at sea

Naval vessels operate across vast geographical areas, often far beyond the reach of terrestrial communications infrastructure. Traditional connectivity limitations can therefore create challenges when crews need to exchange data, access digital tools or communicate with teams onshore.

Following the introduction of Eutelsat's OneWeb LEO service aboard the Frégate Guépratte, part of the Force d'Action Navale, the vessel has experienced a significant improvement in connectivity. According to the crew, the measured improvements include:

• Around four times more bandwidth, giving personnel higher throughput for data-intensive tasks
• Significantly fewer connectivity blind spots across the maritime domain
• More consistent access to the digital tools and communications systems crews rely on throughout their missions

For naval operations, greater bandwidth is about much more than faster internet. It supports the increasing digitalisation of vessels, strengthens situational awareness and enables faster ship-to-shore data exchange, all while keeping teams connected through Eutelsat's satellite connectivity solutions for defence forces across remote operational environments.

Why Low Earth orbit satellites make a difference at sea

Eutelsat's OneWeb LEO constellation consists of more than 600 satellites orbiting approximately 1,200 kilometres above the Earth, delivering high-speed, low-latency connectivity across land, air and sea. Unlike a traditional GEO satellite positioned tens of thousands of kilometres out, this lower altitude keeps signals travelling a far shorter distance.

That proximity matters. Because LEO satellites orbit much closer to Earth than geostationary satellites, they support applications that depend on rapid, responsive data exchange, exactly what ship-to-shore communications increasingly demand.

For vessels underway, this blend of performance and global coverage means connectivity remains available as ships move between operational areas, supporting everything from cloud-based tools to real-time ship-to-shore communication.

Resilience and sovereignty at the heart of naval communications

Performance is only one part of the equation. For governments and defence organisations, resilience, security and sovereignty have become increasingly important considerations when selecting communications infrastructure.

The experience aboard the Frégate Guépratte and within the Force d'Action Navale highlights this strategic dimension. For the crew, the ability to transmit data using a sovereign European satellite infrastructure is an important part of the solution.

Having access to an additional high-performance connectivity layer also strengthens the vessel's communications architecture. Built-in redundancy and encryption help safeguard sensitive data as ships operate in increasingly contested environments, where jamming and other forms of interference remain a persistent risk.

Rather than depending on a single connectivity technology, satellite networks complement existing systems, giving crews additional options when operating far from shore. For defence organisations, this diversity helps maintain operational continuity while supporting greater control over critical communications infrastructure.

Better connectivity for the people behind the mission

Connectivity at sea isn't only about operational performance, it's about people.

Naval deployments can keep sailors away from family for months, and reliable personal internet access makes a real difference to life aboard a vessel. With the Guépratte's expanded connectivity, crew members can access personal communications more easily during downtime.

This mirrors a wider trend, for example the Royal Navy has turned to LEO satcom to support crew welfare on ships from tropical seas to the polar region, recognising morale as part of operational readiness.

The lesson is the same: connecting the vessel matters, but so does connecting the people aboard it.

What to look for in LEO satellite providers for naval forces

Choosing a LEO satellite provider is a strategic decision, not just a technical one. Naval decision-makers should evaluate partners against criteria that reflect operational reality at sea:

• Global coverage with low latency: consistent performance across remote maritime routes, supporting real-time command and control
• Sovereign, European infrastructure: reducing dependency on non-European systems for sensitive defence communications
• Security and encryption: robust safeguards for data in transit, meeting defence-grade requirements
• Multi-orbit resilience: combining GEO and LEO layers for redundancy when conditions or coverage change
• Terminal ecosystem and rapid deployment: a proven LEO terminal range that integrates easily aboard existing vessels

Eutelsat is uniquely positioned here, operating both an established GEO fleet and a fully deployed LEO constellation. This dual-orbit approach, supported by Eutelsat's LEO equipment range, gives naval forces genuine flexibility and continuity of service.

Building the connected naval vessel

Naval operations are becoming increasingly data-driven, with situational awareness, command and control, and even unmanned surface vehicle (USV) support relying on dependable data links.

As vessels integrate more digital systems, communications infrastructure must evolve alongside them. High-performance satellite connectivity delivers the bandwidth, responsiveness and geographical reach required to support this transformation, and LEO satellite connectivity for naval operations is proving central to that shift.

The Frégate Guépratte and the wider Force d'Action Navale offer a real-world example: increased bandwidth, greater continuity of service, access to sovereign European infrastructure and improved connectivity for the crew.

As governments increasingly prioritise resilient, sovereign communications, LEO connectivity will become integral to the architecture supporting naval forces wherever their missions take them.

The Challenge: Maintaining Connectivity in Hazardous Environments

RFA Argus serves as one of the UK armed forces' most versatile platforms: the Royal Navy's Primary Casualty Receiving Ship with a 100-bed hospital, a training vessel for military helicopters, and a deployment platform for counter-narcotics operations, disaster relief missions, and Royal Marines amphibious raids. Operating up to 9,000 miles from home, the vessel must sustain reliable communications across multiple critical functions in demanding maritime environments.

Key operational challenges include:

• Remote operations — Extended deployments far from shore-based infrastructure
• Extreme sea conditions — High waves and harsh weather that degrade signal stability
• Mission-critical resilience — Uninterrupted connectivity supporting medical operations, command coordination, and crew welfare simultaneously

Standard connectivity solutions fall short when a vessel must support emergency surgical procedures, coordinate with allied forces, and maintain morale for 400 personnel whilst operating in unpredictable conditions.

The Need: Crew Welfare and Operational Readiness

When a Royal Navy vessel deploys 9,000 miles from home, the 400 commandos and crew face extended separation from families and friends. Reliable connectivity becomes essential—not just for morale, but for mission effectiveness.

• Resilient broadband connectivity to enable crew to stay in touch with family over long deployments
• Data traffic segmentation to prioritise operational requirements while supporting crew welfare services
• Richer network services at sea capable of handling video calls and real-time communications in extreme maritime conditions

The Solution: LEO Satellite Internet via the OneWeb Network

Two Kymeta Peregrine u8 maritime terminals were fitted while Argus was docked in Falmouth—the first deployment of such technology on a military ship. Airbus Defence and Space served as distribution partner, delivering the OneWeb network service and bringing low-latency, high-speed broadband via low earth orbit satellite internet.

The solution combined:

• 2 Kymeta Peregrine u8 terminals — Compact, flat-panel, fully integrated maritime terminals
• OneWeb LEO constellation — 600+ satellites orbiting 1,200km above Earth, delivering global, low-latency connectivity
• Bonded service plan — Two terminals operating together for resilient, high-capacity bandwidth

This integrated approach ensured continuous connectivity for operations and crew welfare, supported by Eutelsat's broader portfolio of defence connectivity solutions designed for mission-critical maritime environments.

The Impact: Enhanced Connectivity at Sea

RFA Argus marked a milestone as the first naval vessel to deploy LEO satellite internet, delivering measurable benefits:

• Enhanced military connectivity — Low latency, high-bandwidth service supporting 500GB daily and up to 15TB monthly
• Improved crew morale — Reliable contact with family and friends for 400 crew members deployed globally
• Operational resilience — Consistent performance across challenging sea states and remote locations
• Strategic advantage — Crew welfare transformed into operational readiness through better-connected personnel

For more insights on maritime connectivity innovation, visit the Eutelsat media centre.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did RFA Argus need high-speed connectivity at sea?

RFA Argus operates as the Royal Fleet Auxiliary's Primary Casualty Receiving Ship, training platform, and counter-narcotics vessel—often 9,000 miles from home. These missions require resilient connectivity supporting operational command, medical coordination, and crew welfare for up to 400 Royal Marine and army commandos. In extreme maritime conditions, standard solutions cannot maintain the continuous service needed for both mission-critical systems and crew morale during extended deployments.

How does LEO satellite internet improve military connectivity?

Low earth orbit satellite internet delivers high-speed broadband with significantly reduced latency compared to traditional geostationary solutions. The Eutelsat OneWeb constellation—comprising over 600 satellites orbiting 1,200km above Earth—provides continuous global coverage, enabling vessels to maintain stable connections even in remote environments. This low-latency performance supports real-time communications and mission-critical applications whilst allowing crews to stay in touch with family, directly enhancing both operational effectiveness and wellbeing.

What role does the OneWeb network play in naval connectivity?

The OneWeb network serves as a global LEO communications infrastructure optimised for defence and maritime operations. Airbus facilitated installation of two Kymeta Peregrine u8 terminals aboard RFA Argus—compact, fully integrated antennas with embedded modems. This configuration delivers up to 500GB per day and 15TB per month. The dual-terminal setup, bonded together, provides redundancy and enhanced capacity, ensuring continuous connectivity even if one path experiences congestion—critical for naval vessels operating far from shore infrastructure.

How does enhanced connectivity support crew welfare aboard Royal Navy vessels?

Enhanced connectivity allows crews to maintain regular contact with family through voice and video calls, access recreational resources, and participate in online training during long deployments. As the Royal Navy's specialist Digital unit emphasised, crew welfare and morale directly supports a platform's fighting capability. Reliable, high-speed connectivity enables personnel to stay engaged, reduce isolation, and sustain mental wellbeing—factors supporting retention, operational readiness, and mission success across frontline vessels.