---
title: "The world’s largest ever satellite constellation will make high speed internet available to billions"
description: "Richard Branson is creating a new constellation of satellites to make high speed internet and telephony available to billions of people who don’t currently have access."
date: "2015-01-16"
modified: "2015-08-13"
authors:
  - name: "Oana Stefanescu"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/kidco"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-worlds-largest-ever-satellite-constellation-will-make-high-speed-internet-available-to-billions"
categories:
  - "Future Society"
tags:
  - "communications"
---

# The world’s largest ever satellite constellation will make high speed internet available to billions

![Default Futurism featured image](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Futurism-Filler-Image.jpg>)

- With the help of Virgin's LauncherOne, OneWeb aims to bring internet access to those without it, including third world countries, rural areas in developed countries like the US, and airlines. The service will be powered by a constellation of 648 satellites.
- OneWeb will launch the 250-pound satellites with the help of Virgin Galactic's LauncherOne, a rocket created to launch cargo into orbit.
- At an altitude of around 1,200 kilometers (745 miles), the satellites should reach a throughput capacity of 8 gigabits per second. If the initial launch is successful, Branson said the company could launch up to 2,400 satellites. The launch could happen as early as 2017.