OneWeb looks to open space antenna operation at Port Canaveral facility in Titusville
Dave Berman
OneWeb plans to open an antenna assembly, storage and testing facility at the Port Canaveral Logistics Center in Titusville.
Canaveral Port Authority commissioners could consider approving a five-year lease agreement with the company as soon as Wednesday night. But the port as of Tuesday afternoon had not received a signed lease from OneWeb, so it is possible the Port Authority action will be delayed until its June 27 meeting.
Under the proposed agreement, OneWeb would lease 19,210 square feet of space in the 246,240-square-foot building at 7700 U.S. 1 in south Titusville.
The port would receive revenue from the lease of $839,706 during the initial five-year lease period.
As part of the agreement, the port agreed to reimburse OneWeb for up to $365,560 in capital improvements at the site.
OneWeb's move into the Port Canaveral Logistics Center would be part of a major Space Coast expansion for the aerospace company.
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OneWeb Satellites is building a $70 million facility at the Space Florida-run Exploration Park at Kennedy Space Center, where it will assemble hundreds of refrigerator-sized broadband satellites. That complex, which is nearing competition, initially will employ 125 to 150 people.
OneWeb Satellites — a joint venture with European aerospace giant Airbus — will produce small satellites that will one day beam broadband internet down to the ground for use by anyone with a small access terminal.
North Brevard Economic Development Zone Executive Director Troy Post said OneWeb "is a great fit for our area," and "will have a lot of positive ramifications for the local economy."
OneWeb will join space contractor RUAG Space USA at the Port Canaveral Logistics Center. RUAG will produce satellite structures for OneWeb.
RUAG was the first tenant of the Port Canaveral Logistics Center, which the port acquired from Flagler Global Logistics in May 2016 for about $18 million.
The port initially had planned to lease the building from Flagler, which developed the site. But port commissioners decided it would make more financial sense to buy the building outright.
Post said the presence of space industry tenants at the Port Canaveral Logistics Center shows the value of having such a facility in the area.
Dave Berman is government editor at FLORIDA TODAY.
Contact Berman at 321-242-3649 or dberman@floridatoday.com.
Twitter: @bydaveberman.
Facebook: /dave.berman.54
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