In progress - Scheduled maintenance is currently in progress. We will provide updates as necessary.
Feb 28, 2026 - 20:15 UTC
Feb 28, 2026 - 20:15 UTC
Scheduled - This is an advisory regarding the possibility of solar interference affecting geostationary (GEO) satellite services during Spring 2026.
Commercial communications satellites operating in GEO orbit lie in the equatorial plane. During the spring equinox period, the Sun also passes through this plane. As observed from the ground, the Sun may briefly align behind the satellite once per day. When both the satellite and the Sun are within a ground station’s field of view, solar energy can temporarily overpower the satellite signal. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as sun fade, solar interference, or solar outage.
The exact point at which a solar interference event begins and ends is difficult to determine, as it is a gradual transition. Additionally, due to variations in antenna size and ground station equipment, some locations may experience only minor signal degradation while others may experience more noticeable impact. In recent years, while signal degradation has been observed during predicted periods, complete service outages have been uncommon.
Hub Impact – Approximate Windows
The following hub locations may experience brief solar interference during the early to mid-March 2026 time frame. Times are provided for general awareness and are approximate.
Galaxy 18 @ 123°W
Petaluma Teleport
Expected once-daily events during early–mid March 2026
Typical duration: a few minutes per day
Occurs during local midday hours (time zone dependent)
Predicted Solar Interference – Representative U.S. Locations
Galaxy 18 @ 123°W
Times shown are approximate and expressed in local time.
Location Approximate Dates Typical Time Window
Atlanta, GA Early–Mid March ~15:35–15:55
Austin, TX Early–Mid March ~14:30–14:50
Boise, ID Late Feb–Early March ~13:20–13:35
Boston, MA Early–Mid March ~16:35–16:55
Chicago, IL Late Feb–Early March ~14:30–14:50
Denver, CO Late Feb–Early March ~13:25–13:40
El Paso, TX Early–Mid March ~13:25–13:40
Los Angeles, CA Early–Mid March ~12:15–12:35
Miami, FL Mid March ~15:40–16:00
New York, NY Early–Mid March ~15:35–15:55
Phoenix, AZ Early–Mid March ~13:20–13:40
Salt Lake City, UT Late Feb–Early March ~13:20–13:40
Washington, DC Early–Mid March ~15:35–15:55
Notes:
-Each affected site typically experiences one brief event per day during the listed date ranges.
-Duration and impact vary based on antenna size and ground equipment.
-Larger antennas generally experience less degradation than smaller antennas.
-Systems with existing hardware issues, marginal signal levels, or antenna off-pointing may experience increased impact during solar interference periods.
Additional Information:
-Solar interference is a predictable, natural GEO phenomenon and is not indicative of a network fault.
-Services delivered via low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite architectures — including Starlink and OneWeb — are not affected by solar interference in this manner.
-Customers with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact Network Operations for additional guidance.
Feb 28, 2026 20:15 - Mar 12, 2026 19:50 UTC
Commercial communications satellites operating in GEO orbit lie in the equatorial plane. During the spring equinox period, the Sun also passes through this plane. As observed from the ground, the Sun may briefly align behind the satellite once per day. When both the satellite and the Sun are within a ground station’s field of view, solar energy can temporarily overpower the satellite signal. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as sun fade, solar interference, or solar outage.
The exact point at which a solar interference event begins and ends is difficult to determine, as it is a gradual transition. Additionally, due to variations in antenna size and ground station equipment, some locations may experience only minor signal degradation while others may experience more noticeable impact. In recent years, while signal degradation has been observed during predicted periods, complete service outages have been uncommon.
Hub Impact – Approximate Windows
The following hub locations may experience brief solar interference during the early to mid-March 2026 time frame. Times are provided for general awareness and are approximate.
Galaxy 18 @ 123°W
Petaluma Teleport
Expected once-daily events during early–mid March 2026
Typical duration: a few minutes per day
Occurs during local midday hours (time zone dependent)
Predicted Solar Interference – Representative U.S. Locations
Galaxy 18 @ 123°W
Times shown are approximate and expressed in local time.
Location Approximate Dates Typical Time Window
Atlanta, GA Early–Mid March ~15:35–15:55
Austin, TX Early–Mid March ~14:30–14:50
Boise, ID Late Feb–Early March ~13:20–13:35
Boston, MA Early–Mid March ~16:35–16:55
Chicago, IL Late Feb–Early March ~14:30–14:50
Denver, CO Late Feb–Early March ~13:25–13:40
El Paso, TX Early–Mid March ~13:25–13:40
Los Angeles, CA Early–Mid March ~12:15–12:35
Miami, FL Mid March ~15:40–16:00
New York, NY Early–Mid March ~15:35–15:55
Phoenix, AZ Early–Mid March ~13:20–13:40
Salt Lake City, UT Late Feb–Early March ~13:20–13:40
Washington, DC Early–Mid March ~15:35–15:55
Notes:
-Each affected site typically experiences one brief event per day during the listed date ranges.
-Duration and impact vary based on antenna size and ground equipment.
-Larger antennas generally experience less degradation than smaller antennas.
-Systems with existing hardware issues, marginal signal levels, or antenna off-pointing may experience increased impact during solar interference periods.
Additional Information:
-Solar interference is a predictable, natural GEO phenomenon and is not indicative of a network fault.
-Services delivered via low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite architectures — including Starlink and OneWeb — are not affected by solar interference in this manner.
-Customers with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact Network Operations for additional guidance.
Feb 28, 2026 20:15 - Mar 12, 2026 19:50 UTC
OneWeb Network Services
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BlueVIEW
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RedPHONE
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IPA Voice
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Legacy iDirect VSAT (G18 @ 123W)
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Los Angeles POP (LAX)
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