(Telecompaper) French and European satellite launch company Arianespace was chosen by OneWeb for the launch of 900 Airbus-made small satellites to offer affordable internet access to around 3 billion people still without it. OneWeb hopes to have an operational network in orbit in 2019. Arianespace has signed a contract for 21 Soyuz rocket launches plus options for another five Soyuz launches and three on the future Ariane 6, due to enter service in 2020. Arianespace will use sites in French Guiana, Kazhakstan and Russia. Virgin Galactic secured an order for 39 launches and an option on 100 more, using its LauncherOne booster, currently in trial phase and capable of carrying up to three small satellites.