Close Menu
    Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Instagram X (Twitter)
    Blue Tech Wave Media
    Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Instagram X (Twitter)
    • Home
    • Leadership Alliance
    • Exclusives
    • Internet Governance
      • Regulation
      • Governance Bodies
      • Emerging Tech
    • IT Infrastructure
      • Networking
      • Cloud
      • Data Centres
    • Company Stories
      • Profiles
      • Startups
      • Tech Titans
      • Partner Content
    • Others
      • Fintech
        • Blockchain
        • Payments
        • Regulation
      • Tech Trends
        • AI
        • AR/VR
        • IoT
      • Video / Podcast
    Blue Tech Wave Media
    Home » Eutelsat’s OneWeb faces 48-hour outage from leap year bug
    satellite-navigation-29-11
    satellite-navigation-29-11
    IT Infrastructure

    Eutelsat’s OneWeb faces 48-hour outage from leap year bug

    By Estrella QianJanuary 7, 2025No Comments2 Mins Read
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email
    • Eutelsat’s OneWeb satellite broadband network went offline for 48 hours due to a software issue related to the leap year on December 31, 2024.
    • The outage impacted the satellite service for nearly two days, with 80% of the network restored by January 1 and full service by January 2.

    What happened: Leap year bug disrupts Eutelsat’s OneWeb network

    Eutelsat’s OneWeb satellite broadband network faced a 48-hour outage starting on December 31, 2024. The disruption was caused by a software bug in the ground segment, specifically related to the leap year in 2024. The issue occurred due to a failure in the manual calculation for the GPS-to-UTC offset, which did not account for the extra day in the leap year.

    As a result, the satellite network went offline, affecting connectivity for its users. The problem was identified quickly, and by January 1, 80% of the network had been restored. Full service was resumed by January 2, 2025. Importantly, the satellite hardware itself remained operational in space, and the issue was confined to the ground systems responsible for managing the satellite network. This incident highlights the challenges of managing time-sensitive systems, especially in satellite communication and navigation.

    Also read: Eutelsat expands OneWeb constellation with new 5G satellites
    Also read: Japan’s Mitsubishi to provide H3 rockets for Eutelsat from 2027

    Why it is important

    The outage of Eutelsat’s OneWeb service highlights the often-overlooked challenges in satellite communications, particularly with time-sensitive systems like GPS and satellite navigation. The leap year bug that caused the disruption underscores the importance of robust software testing, especially when dealing with global navigation and communication systems that require precise time synchronization.

    The issue came at an inopportune time, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the Y2K scare, when similar concerns about software errors were at their peak. While OneWeb’s satellite network, with over 630 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), competes with larger constellations like Starlink, this incident illustrates that even advanced systems can be vulnerable to seemingly small software oversights.

    For Eutelsat, this mishap is especially embarrassing considering its leading role in the SpaceRISE consortium, which is set to launch the IRIS² satellite broadband project by 2030. A failure like this raises questions about the readiness and reliability of future satellite networks, which could impact their adoption and long-term success in providing global internet connectivity.

    Eutelsat OneWeb
    Estrella Qian

    Estrella is an intern reporter at BTW Media, having studied IHRM at University of Reading. She specializes in IT infrastructure and AI. You can reach out to her at estrella.qian@btw.media.

    Related Posts

    Cloud Innovation calls for AFRINIC wind-up after ‘impossible’ election standards

    July 11, 2025

    Fimnet: Enabling Kenya’s Digital Growth

    July 11, 2025

    CoLi Link Ghana Limited: Pioneering connectivity

    July 11, 2025
    Add A Comment
    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    CATEGORIES
    Archives
    • July 2025
    • June 2025
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • February 2025
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • August 2024
    • July 2024
    • June 2024
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • March 2024
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • August 2023
    • July 2023

    Blue Tech Wave (BTW.Media) is a future-facing tech media brand delivering sharp insights, trendspotting, and bold storytelling across digital, social, and video. We translate complexity into clarity—so you’re always ahead of the curve.

    BTW
    • About BTW
    • Contact Us
    • Join Our Team
    TERMS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Terms of Use
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube LinkedIn

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.