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British Channel Islands-based OneWeb has signed contracts with Virgin Galactic and Arianespace to provide launch services for its planned 900-satellite constellation, which will deliver internet capability to remote corners of the world.

Under the contract, Virgin Galactic will provide 39 LauncherOne flights, while Arianespace will fly 21 Soyuz rockets.

Initially, OneWeb will launch around 648 satellites, keeping the rest as spares for when replacements are required.

Planned to be launched early in 2017, the satellites will primarily provide broadband and mobile services.

OneWeb founder and CEO Greg Wyler said that the project will cost between $1.5bn and $2bn.

The deal with Virgin includes an option for 100 additional launches.

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"OneWeb will launch around 648 satellites, keeping the rest as spares for when replacements are required."

Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides was quoted by Reuters as saying that the company’s LauncherOne rocket will be able to launch up to three satellites at a time.

WhiteKnightTwo jet aircraft will carry LauncherOne to an altitude of around 50,000ft, when the rocket will ignite and release the satellites into orbit.

Arianespace will launch its Soyuz missions from French Guiana spaceport. A Soyuz rocket is said to fly up to 36 OneWeb satellites at a time.

Meanwhile, OneWeb has raised $500m from a group of international companies, including Airbus Group, Bharti Enterprises, Hughes Network Systems, Intelsat, Qualcomm and Coca-Cola.

The company will use the proceeds to develop key technologies to offer broadband to rural and underdeveloped regions.

Image: An artist’s impression of a global, space-based internet service. Photo: courtesy of oneweb.world.