Eutelsat and MEO Partner to Expand OneWeb LEO Connectivity Across Portugal

Eutelsat has signed a partnership with Portuguese telecoms operator MEO to integrate OneWeb LEO satellite connectivity into MEO's enterprise and public-sector services, extending the companies' existing infrastructure relationship into commercial satellite broadband.

MEO will combine OneWeb capacity with its fibre and 5G networks to provide additional connectivity and backup services for businesses, public administrations, municipalities and critical infrastructure operators. The multi-network approach is intended particularly for organisations requiring communications to remain available when terrestrial infrastructure is disrupted or unavailable.

The agreement builds on an established relationship between the companies. MEO already hosts Eutelsat ground infrastructure in Portugal, previously supporting its GEO satellites and now also the OneWeb constellation. The new arrangement therefore expands MEO's role from hosting parts of the satellite ground segment to distributing LEO connectivity to Portuguese customers.

Eutelsat and MEO are positioning the service around network resilience and European-controlled connectivity, with OneWeb operating as an additional layer alongside terrestrial networks rather than as a replacement for them. This could be particularly relevant for emergency communications, geographically dispersed operations and critical sites requiring independent backup paths.

The partnership illustrates a developing strategy for Eutelsat of using established telecom operators as a route to market for OneWeb enterprise services. Integrating LEO capacity into an operator's existing fibre and mobile portfolio can make satellite connectivity part of a broader managed communications service, rather than requiring customers to procure and operate it separately.