• SES launched O3b mPOWER satellites 11, 12 and 13 on 13 September, completing the planned 13-satellite second-generation constellation
  • Ten satellites are already operating, while SES expects the final three to enter commercial service by mid-2027 after testing and commissioning

The fact

SES launched the final three satellites in its planned O3b mPOWER constellation aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on 13 September. The spacecraft, numbered 11, 12 and 13, deployed as scheduled and complete the planned 13-satellite second-generation constellation.

Ten O3b mPOWER satellites are already operating. SES expects the latest three to enter commercial service by mid-2027 after orbital raising, testing and commissioning. O3b mPOWER operates in medium Earth orbit, and SES sells connectivity over the network to government, enterprise, mobility and other customers. The company has not identified which customer services or contracts will depend specifically on satellites 11 to 13.

The assessment

Completing the launches removes one stage from SES's expansion plan, but it does not make the final three satellites commercially usable. SES still has to move them into their operating orbits, test them and complete commissioning before their capacity can carry customer traffic.

That timing matters most for customers planning services before mid-2027. Some connections may be supported by the ten satellites already operating, while others could depend on the additional coverage or capacity from satellites 11 to 13. The launch count alone therefore does not tell a customer when a particular service can start.

For BTW readers, the practical divide is between capacity available now and capacity that still depends on commissioning. Any service scheduled before mid-2027 needs to be supported by the operating fleet or have its reliance on the final three satellites made clear in the delivery timetable.

What to watch

Watch for SES to declare satellites 11 to 13 operational and identify service expansions or customer activations using their capacity. Ground-segment changes and measured service performance will show how the additional satellites change what SES can actually deliver.