Week in Space Data, every Friday.
A side-by-side comparison of two low Earth orbit broadband constellations in commercial service, with dated figures and sources.
| Metric | Starlink | OneWeb |
|---|---|---|
| Operator | SpaceX (Starlink) | Eutelsat OneWeb (combined with Eutelsat in Sep 2023) |
| Parent Company | SpaceX | Eutelsat Group |
| Service Launch | Service to customers since 2020 | Global operations targeted for the end of 2023 (Eutelsat, Sep 2023) |
| Satellites in Orbit | 11,102 (Aug 27, 2026) | 600+ in 12 orbital planes (Eutelsat, Oct 2026) |
| Constellation Plans | 15,000 second-generation satellites authorized (FCC, Jan 2026), on top of its first-generation licence | 648-satellite first generation; 440 more ordered from Airbus (100 in Dec 2024, 340 in Jan 2026), deliveries from end of 2026 |
| Orbital Altitude | SpaceX said in Jan 2026 it would lower its satellites at about 550 km to about 480 km during 2026 | About 1,200 km |
| Inter-Satellite Links (ISLs) | Yes: over 23,000 inter-satellite lasers (Mar 31, 2026) | No: bent-pipe payload, so traffic passes through ground gateways |
| Subscribers | 12.0 million (June 30, 2026) | No subscriber figure published |
| Latency | Median about 25 ms (Mar 31, 2026) | No network-wide figure published by Eutelsat |
| Download Speed | Median 225 Mbps at peak hours, residential (Mar 31, 2026) | No network-wide figure published by Eutelsat |
| Pricing | Monthly fee varies by market and download speed | Set by distribution partners |
| Target Market | Households and small businesses, plus enterprise and government contracts (aviation, maritime, land mobility, fixed sites) | Maritime, aviation, enterprise, telco and government customers, through distribution partners |
| User Terminal | Starlink Kit (user terminal and accessories) | Partner terminals, about 30 to 75 cm |
| Polar Coverage | Yes: SpaceX says it can provide service everywhere on Earth, including the poles | Yes: near-polar orbits (about 87 degrees inclination) |
Starlink is far larger: 11,102 (Aug 27, 2026) satellites in orbit, against the 600+ that Eutelsat gives for OneWeb, and SpaceX reported 12.0 million Starlink subscribers at June 30, 2026. Starlink sells directly to households and businesses as well as through enterprise and government contracts. Its satellites carry inter-satellite lasers (over 23,000 across the constellation as of March 31, 2026), so traffic can be routed through orbit rather than only through ground stations; first-generation OneWeb satellites carry a bent-pipe payload instead.
OneWeb has been part of Eutelsat since September 2023 and is sold through distribution partners to maritime, aviation, enterprise, telco and government customers. Its satellites fly at about 1,200 km in 12 orbital planes, far higher than Starlink's. To refresh and extend the network, Eutelsat has ordered 440 more OneWeb satellites from Airbus (100 in December 2024 and 340 in January 2026), with deliveries scheduled to begin at the end of 2026.
Track both constellations with real-time data on SpaceNexus
SpaceX publishes Starlink figures: a median latency of about 25 ms and a median peak-hour download speed of 225 Mbps for residential users as of March 31, 2026. We found no comparable network-wide figures from Eutelsat for OneWeb. OneWeb satellites fly at about 1,200 km, higher than Starlink, so signals travel further.
OneWeb is sold through distribution partners to maritime, aviation, enterprise, telco and government customers. Starlink sells directly through Starlink.com, including residential plans.
Both. OneWeb flies in near-polar orbits inclined at about 87 degrees, and SpaceX says Starlink can provide service everywhere on Earth, including the poles.
Eutelsat Group. Eutelsat completed its all-share combination with OneWeb on September 28, 2023; OneWeb now operates commercially as Eutelsat OneWeb, alongside Eutelsat geostationary satellites.
Starlink satellites carry inter-satellite lasers (over 23,000 across the constellation as of March 31, 2026) that route traffic through orbit rather than relying only on ground infrastructure. First-generation OneWeb satellites carry a bent-pipe payload, so traffic passes through ground gateways.