Francois Gaullier, Head of Telecommunications Systems at Airbus, said: “The worldwide commercial success of Airbus’ telecommunications satellite products – OneSat and Eurostar Neo – proves our investment strategy, focusing on new technology and innovation, is spot on.

“This was largely made possible thanks to key support from space agencies, which further reinforces European industrial competitiveness and jobs, preserving Europe’s sovereignty in space. These investments gave us the impetus to innovate and offer pioneering technological and industrial solutions to our customers.

“Thanks to our intuitive reading of the market, the right technological choices and a disruptive supply chain approach, we see OneSat and Eurostar Neo as key pillars in the current and future geostationary telecoms market.”

Caroline Laurent, Director of Orbital Systems at CNES, said: “With the final design review, OneSat has reached an important milestone that allows it to start the manufacturing and qualification phases, in order to deliver the first satellites in 2023. This has been made possible thanks to the involvement of all stakeholders of this ambitious project.

“After initiation of the preliminary design phase between Airbus and CNES, the final design phase has followed on in cooperation with ESA. CNES aims to keep the satellite communications industry at the leading edge of the market.”

Elodie Viau, Director of Telecommunications and Integrated Applications at ESA, said: “I am proud that ESA is associated, through the OneSat partnership project, with the development of this innovative software-defined satellite product line.

“Such partnership projects allow industry to engage in ambitious and challenging endeavours to accompany the transformation of the satellite communications market, to strengthen European leadership and ultimately to ensure our citizens are better connected.”

OneSat is part of ESA’s programme of Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES). Like previous ESA Partnership Projects, it is expected to generate an exceptional return on investment to European industry, creating jobs and boosting prosperity in ESA member states.