> an attempt to out-compete SpaceX on mass satellite production and cheap launches was doomed to fail

Not necessarily. SpaceX has an advantage in owning the rails. It isn’t, however, decisive.

OneWeb failed to bring any advantages of its own to the table. It compounded its launch and first mover disadvantages by launching with ArianeSpace. It gave away any satellite advantages by using Airbus to make the birds.

There simply wasn’t any strategic ground for OneWeb to stand on.