- MDA Space (TSX:MDA) was selected by Airbus to build more than 1,300 Ka‑band and Ku‑band antennas for the next phase of Eutelsat’s OneWeb low Earth orbit satellite constellation
- The contract extends a long relationship that began in 2016, when OneWeb awarded MDA Space an initial order for nearly 2,000 antennas for the original ~650‑satellite network
- The antennas will be produced in Montréal and integrated into Airbus‑built Arrow satellites, supporting OneWeb’s planned constellation extension announced in late 2024 and 2025
- MDA Space stock (TSX:MDA) opened trading at C$48.00
MDA Space (TSX:MDA) has secured another role in the ongoing build‑out of the OneWeb low Earth orbit satellite network, marking a continuation of work that began nearly a decade ago.
The Canadian space technology company has been selected by Airbus to design and manufacture more than 1,300 antennas for the OneWeb constellation, including over 880 Ka‑band steerable antennas and 440 Ku‑band user replacement antennas. OneWeb is owned by global satellite operator Eutelsat, which is expanding the constellation to support broadband connectivity services worldwide.
The latest award follows OneWeb’s original antenna order to MDA Space in 2016, when the company was selected to supply close to 2,000 antennas for the initial deployment of the constellation. Today, OneWeb is considered the second‑largest satellite network in low Earth orbit, with roughly 650 satellites already in service.
Airbus, which is building the next phase of the OneWeb constellation, awarded its most recent contracts in December 2024 and December 2025. Those agreements cover the construction of 440 additional satellites—100 awarded in the first contract and 340 in the second—that will extend the network’s global coverage and capacity. The satellites will be part of Airbus’ Arrow telecommunications platform, into which MDA Space’s antennas will be integrated.
For MDA Space, the contract builds on a long track record in antenna development and production. The company says it has delivered antenna systems for more than 350 satellite missions over several decades, serving both commercial and government customers. That experience has become increasingly relevant as satellite operators move toward large‑scale constellations that require standardized designs and high‑volume manufacturing.
The antennas for the OneWeb extension will be built, assembled, and tested at MDA Space’s high‑volume satellite production facility in Montréal. The site is designed to support large industrial production runs, a capability that has become a key differentiator as low Earth orbit systems shift from bespoke spacecraft to more factory‑style manufacturing.
MDA Space previously received a performance award from OneWeb for the antenna systems supplied during the constellation’s original deployment, recognizing the reliability and technical performance of the equipment once in orbit. That history likely played a role in the company’s inclusion in the latest phase of the program, as operators look to limit technical risk when expanding complex satellite networks.
The expanded OneWeb constellation is intended to enhance global broadband coverage, particularly in remote and underserved regions where terrestrial infrastructure is limited. Low Earth orbit satellites operate closer to the planet than traditional geostationary systems, reducing latency and supporting applications such as enterprise connectivity, maritime and aviation communications, and government services.
While competition in the LEO broadband market has intensified in recent years, OneWeb’s approach has focused on enterprise and institutional customers rather than mass consumer services. The constellation extension is expected to strengthen that positioning as demand grows for resilient, globally available connectivity.
“The selection of MDA Space for this repeat order underscores our company’s reputation as a reliable partner in enabling advanced satellite communications and connectivity around the world,” MDA Space’s CEO, Mike Greenley said in a news release. “With the growth of satellite constellations continuing to accelerate, MDA Space is ideally positioned to meet full constellation life cycles from the initiation to expansion to the replacement of satellites, antennas and subsystems.”
For MDA Space, the Airbus contract can reinforce its role as a supplier to major satellite primes and constellation operators at a time when the space industry continues to shift toward larger fleets and faster production cycles. With antenna manufacturing underway in Montréal, the company remains closely tied to one of the sector’s most established non‑U.S. LEO networks as it enters its next phase of deployment.
MDA Space stock (TSX:MDA) opened trading 0.2 per cent higher at C$48.00 and has risen more than 95 per cent since this time last year.
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