The OneWeb satellite constellation, direct rival of SpaceX and its Starlink service, was recently the victim of a technical incident of considerable magnitude. For more than 24 hours, dozens of satellites found each other hors servicecausing a complete interruption of internet services for many customers. Among the affected users, Eutelsat customers particularly felt the consequences of this blackout.
This event highlighted the vulnerability critical infrastructures in orbit, which are nevertheless at the heart of global digital ambitions. As OneWeb positioned itself as a reliable player in global connectivity, this episode highlighted the major technical challenges that the satellite industry faces.
An embarrassing bug: the leap year involved
To everyone’s surprise, the cause of this failure turned out to be a disturbing simplicity : a software error linked to the management of leap years. This problem, although commonplace for terrestrial developers, took on a whole new dimension when it affected satellites in orbit. OneWeb engineers discovered that the poorly configured system had not anticipated the impact of the additional days on its calculations.
This type of bug is reminiscent of many famous incidents, such as “Y2K” failures or software errors that cost technology companies millions. The initial silence of OneWeb in the face of this incident did not help matters. It was only after multiple questions that the company confirmed the origin of the problem and promised a systems update.
Players in the sector have highlighted the almost inexcusable of such an oversight, especially since these satellite constellations are supposed to be synonymous with reliability and innovation.
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A hard blow for OneWeb: economic and strategic repercussions
This technical incident could well be a tipping point for OneWeb in its competition with SpaceX and its Starlink constellation. While the British company aims to become a major player in the field of satellite internet services, this failure could deal a serious blow to its credibility.
From a financial point of view, the consequences promise to be serious. The disruption in services not only affected customers, but it also shook investor confidence. Eutelsatwhich merged with OneWeb to strengthen its offer against Starlink, is already seeing criticism raining down. Some experts estimate that this bug could cost several million euros in compensation and additional maintenance costs.
On a strategic level, OneWeb faces a major challenge: convincing people that such errors will not happen again. Meanwhile, SpaceX continues to deploy its satellites at a breakneck pace, consolidating its lead. Elon Muskalways quick to point out the flaws of its competitors, did not fail to take advantage of them on social networks.
It is the first wooden satellite in history and its function is also unique, launched from the ISS by JAXA
Towards a questioning of space standards
This incident highlights a larger problem: the norms and standards that govern the space industry. As satellite constellations multiply, software errors become critical issues. Unlike terrestrial infrastructure, updates to orbiting satellites are complex, expensive and often limited.
The OneWeb affair raises essential questions:
- How do you prevent minor bugs from turning into major disasters?
- What standardized protocols could be adopted by the industry to prevent these incidents?
Experts call for a more rigorous approach in space software designwith extensive testing to simulate extreme scenarios. Many engineers also believe that space missions must include backup systems capable of taking over in the event of a failure.
For OneWeb, this failure could be a costly but crucial lesson. The company will have to demonstrate that it has learned the lessons necessary to regain market confidence.
Summary in 5 points:
- A major outage paralyzed OneWeb satellites for almost 48 hours.
- The cause: a software bug linked to the management of leap years.
- Customers of OneWeb partner Eutelsat have been seriously impacted.
- This incident weakens OneWeb against its direct competitor, SpaceX and Starlink.
- The space industry is considering stricter standards to avoid such errors.
