SES now operates a 13‑satellite O3b mPOWER constellation after launching the final three satellites on 14 Sept 2026. The launch completes the second‑generation medium‑Earth‑orbit (MEO) system that the Luxembourg‑based satellite operator has been building since 2022.
Final three satellites launched
The eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth O3b mPOWER spacecraft lifted off at 2:49 pm local time on 14 Sept 2026 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC‑40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The launch details are recorded in a Business Wire press release distributed by the Financial Post.1
CEO says the constellation is complete
“This launch marks a defining milestone for SES as we complete the O3b mPOWER constellation,” said Adel Al‑Saleh, CEO of SES, in the same release. He added that the new satellites “reinforce our ability to deliver resilient, secure and scalable connectivity for customers around the world.”1
Operational target
SES expects the three newly launched satellites to become operational by mid‑2027, at which point the full 13‑satellite network will be delivering high‑performance connectivity to governments, enterprises, cloud providers and mobility customers.1 The timeline is the only forward‑looking target disclosed in the announcement.
SES financial snapshot
While the launch is a technical milestone, SES’s latest filed financials provide context on the company’s scale. The figures below are taken from the company’s Form 10‑Q filed 11 Aug 2026, covering the six‑month period ended 30 Jun 2026.
| Metric | Value | Unit | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 11,783,000 | USD | 1 Jan 2026 – 30 Jun 2026 |
| Net income (loss) | -30,001,000 | USD | 1 Jan 2026 – 30 Jun 2026 |
| Total assets | 236,213,000 | USD | 30 Jun 2026 |
| Shareholders’ equity | 187,059,000 | USD | 30 Jun 2026 |
| Shares outstanding | 365,432,329 | shares | 31 Dec 2025 |
These numbers show a company with modest revenue but a sizeable balance sheet, and a share count that dilutes earnings per share. The loss for the first half of 2026 reflects the capital‑intensive nature of satellite development and launch programmes.
Impact and next steps
The completion of the O3b mPOWER constellation positions SES to compete more aggressively in the growing satellite‑based broadband market, where demand from remote‑area connectivity, maritime, aviation and enterprise customers is rising. However, the press release does not quantify the expected revenue uplift from the new satellites, nor does it disclose any commercial contracts tied to the mid‑2027 operational date.
Investors will be watching the company’s next quarterly filing for any guidance on the timeline of in‑orbit testing, commercial service activation, and the financial implications of the expanded network.
What remains unknown
- The exact number of customers or contracts that will be served by the three new satellites once they are online.
- Any additional capital expenditures required to bring the constellation to full service beyond the mid‑2027 target.
- Whether SES plans to add further satellites to the O3b mPOWER family after the current 13‑satellite configuration.
SES has not disclosed a detailed rollout schedule beyond the mid‑2027 operational milestone, leaving the market to infer the pace of service rollout.
For now, the launch marks the end of a multi‑year build‑out and the beginning of a new service phase that could reshape connectivity options for a range of high‑value users.
Sources: Financial Post (Business Wire press release) – https://financialpost.com/pmn/business-wire-news-releases-pmn/sess-final-three-o3b-mpower-satellites-successfully-launched