The UK Space Agency (UKSA), acting on behalf of the Home Office’s Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP), has officially invited industry input to integrate satellite direct-to-device (D2D) technology into the national Emergency Services Network (ESN).

The move aims to leverage Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations to eliminate terrestrial coverage gaps that have plagued the project for over a decade.

Solving the “Final 5%” Coverage Gap

The ESN is intended to replace the aging Airwave TETRA-based radio system with a modern 4G/5G platform provided by EE (BT Group). While terrestrial infrastructure covers most of the population, significant “not-spots” remain in rural and coastal areas.

By utilizing D2D technology, the UKSA hopes to provide emergency personnel with seamless connectivity using standard smartphones, bypassing the need for specialized satellite handsets or external antennas. The integration focuses on Mission-Critical Messaging, SMS and location data in remote locations.

Further, future-proofing for high-bandwidth video and voice-over-LTE via satellite as constellations mature. Providing a redundant backup to terrestrial cell towers during network outages or natural disasters will be a critical component of the project.

Key Contenders and Partnerships

Several major space players are positioned to support the ESN expansion:

• SpaceX (Starlink): Currently the most mature D2C provider. Notably, BT Group (EE’s parent company) signed a broadband agreement with Starlink in 2025, making them a front-runner for any ESN satellite extension.
• AST SpaceMobile: Partnered with Vodafone Group, AST expects to provide “intermittent nationwide” LEO service in 2026, with continuous service planned for later in the year as more BlueBird satellites are deployed.
• Eutelsat OneWeb: The UK-backed LEO operator is also developing D2D capabilities to complement its existing enterprise and government broadband offerings.

Regulatory and Program Milestones

The timing of the UKSA’s request for information coincides with Ofcom’s new regulatory framework, which came into force in late 2025. This framework allows Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to use their existing terrestrial spectrum for satellite-to-phone links, removing legal barriers for a 2026 commercial launch.

However, the ESN project itself remains a “high-risk” endeavor. Originally slated for 2017, the full transition from Airwave is now not expected until December 2029, with total program costs estimated to exceed £11 billion.

Looking Ahead

The Home Office is currently finalizing a £1.11 billion framework for ESN-compliant end-user devices, which is expected to be awarded in summer 2026. These devices will likely be the first to feature the integrated satellite-terrestrial roaming capabilities currently being explored by the UKSA.

December 25, 2025, Operational signals from the SpaceRISE consortium—comprising SES, Eutelsat, and Hispasat—indicated the multi-orbit IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite) program has transitioned into the active procurement phase.

The consortium has begun the preparation of Request for Proposal (RFP) documentation for both satellite hardware and launch services, marking the first significant movement toward physical acquisition since the signing of the concession agreement.

The shift into procurement was confirmed by recent talent acquisition requirements at Eutelsat, where newly appointed procurement and system engineering roles are tasked with the immediate “preparation of the satellite and launch services RFP.” This phase follows the signing of a 12-year concession contract between the European Commission (EC) and SpaceRISE on December 16, 2024, which allocated approximately €10.6 billion for the development and operation of the sovereign European constellation.

Strategic Transition to Hardware Acquisition

The initiation of the RFP process suggests that the “competitive dialogue” stage—previously focused on narrowing the field of prime contractors for the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) segment—is reaching a conclusion. As of late 2025, the competition for the LEO segment was centered on two primary bidders: Airbus Defence and Space of France and Aerospacelab of Belgium. The current procurement push indicates the consortium is moving beyond design reviews to finalize contractual awards for the manufacturing of the 272-satellite LEO fleet.

The IRIS² program serves as the European Union’s flagship initiative to establish a secure, multi-layered communications backbone. By integrating the existing LEO expertise of Eutelsat (via its OneWeb assets) and the Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) capabilities of SES, the architecture aims to provide resilient governmental communications and bridge the digital divide for EU member states.

Technical Architecture and Mission Parameters

The planned constellation will utilize a multi-orbit architecture to ensure continuous coverage and high-performance throughput:

• LEO Segment: 272 satellites at an altitude of 1,200 km, designed for low-latency broadband and 5G-equivalent connectivity.
• MEO Segment: 18 satellites at an altitude of 8,000 km, leveraging SES’s established orbital infrastructure to provide high-capacity throughput.
• Inter-Satellite Links: The fleet will employ optical laser technology to maintain mesh network connectivity, reducing reliance on terrestrial ground stations outside of European borders.
• Sustainability: Consortium members have committed to non-emissive satellite designs to minimize interference with astronomical observations and strict debris mitigation protocols.

“IRIS² is integral to Europe’s space strategy and is already fostering enhanced collaboration and innovation between the industry and public sectors,” said Adel Al-Saleh, chief executive officer of SES, during the program’s initial contract signing.

Timeline to 2030 Operational Status

The next milestone for the SpaceRISE consortium involves the evaluation of the upcoming satellite and launch RFPs. While the European Commission targets initial governmental services by 2030, the 2026–2027 period is expected to focus on the Critical Design Review (CDR) and the first batch of satellite manufacturing.

The launch services RFP will likely prioritize European launch vehicles, specifically the Ariane 6, to maintain the program’s mandate for strategic autonomy. Full operational readiness of the constellation remains slated for 2031, following a phased deployment beginning in late 2029.

Auckland, New Zealand – 19 December 2025, Auckland-based Zenno Astronautics announced it has secured a contract from Germany’s Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation (SPRIND) to develop a new generation of autonomous satellite operation software. The project, titled “Autonomous Fuel-Free Agility in Space,” centers on the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with Zenno’s proprietary superconducting magnetic technology, known as the Supertorquer.

Advances in Superconducting Magnetic Control

The development program focuses on creating AI-assisted control algorithms and virtual simulation environments designed to facilitate precise close-proximity operations (CPO). Unlike traditional systems that rely on chemical propulsion, Zenno’s hardware utilizes compact superconducting magnets to enable fuel-free maneuvering. This technology is intended to allow spacecraft to perform docking, in-orbit assembly, and satellite servicing without the mass and complexity associated with consumable propellants.

The technical scope of the contract includes the creation of a multi-agent simulation sandbox and a physical demonstration platform. These systems will utilize Zenno’s flight-proven software algorithms to achieve real-time, closed-loop control of spacecraft interactions, leveraging the Earth’s magnetic field and solar energy for momentum management.

Strategic Expansion into the European Market

“This validation contract from SPRIND is a major step for us,” said Max Arshavsky, co-founder and CEO of Zenno Astronautics. “It will help bring Zenno technology to Europe and accelerate its adoption in the next generation of autonomous space systems.”

The contract aligns with Zenno’s broader strategy to establish a permanent presence in Europe through its recently founded entity in the Space Area Munich. Stella Meiré, Research and Business Analyst at SPRIND, noted that the fuel-free magnetic system could significantly extend orbital lifetimes by eliminating mechanical wear and propellant limitations, establishing a foundation for autonomous maintenance maneuvers in space.

Timeline for Development

The SPRIND-funded project is scheduled to run for nine months. During this period, Zenno will focus on validating its universal CPO solution within a virtual environment while scaling its operational footprint in Germany. The initiative aims to streamline historically complex tasks, such as debris removal and megastructure assembly, by transitioning them to routine, autonomous operations.

About SPRIND

The Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation (SPRIND) funds technologies that address major societal and technical challenges and enable long-term impact for Germany and Europe.

About Zenno Astronautics

Zenno Astronautics is a New Zealand company pioneering the future of sustainable and safe spacecraft operations through advanced superconducting magnetic systems. The company enables fully autonomous, fuel-free satellite positioning and precision interactions between spacecraft. Zenno is developing multiple applications of superconductivity in space, including radiation shielding, plasma control, and close-proximity operations.

NEW YORK — The global market for Flat Panel Satellite Antennas (FPAs) is on the verge of a significant upward trajectory, signaling a major shift in ground segment infrastructure over the next decade. According to new market analysis released by Research Intelo, the sector is currently valued at $1.2 billion in 2024 and is forecasted to more than quintuple in value, reaching an estimated $6.7 billion by 2033.

The report outlines a robust Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 20.9% during the forecast period extending from 2025 to 2033. This aggressive growth projection highlights the rapid transition of FPA technology from niche aerospace and defense applications into broader commercial adoption.

According to Research Intelo, the primary factor fueling this impressive growth trajectory is the “rapid advancement in satellite communication technologies,” which has significantly boosted the adoption of flat panel architectures.

For industry observers, this growth is inextricably linked to the operational maturation of Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) constellations. As Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) networks continue to deploy thousands of satellites, the demand for user terminals capable of tracking multiple, fast-moving targets across the sky is surging.

Unlike traditional parabolic dishes that rely on bulky mechanical gimbals to align with a satellite, advanced Flat Panel Antennas—utilizing electronically steered phased array or metamaterial technologies—can maintain high-throughput links without physical movement. Their low-profile, aerodynamic form factor makes them the essential requirement for the booming mobility sectors, including In-Flight Connectivity (IFC) for commercial aviation, maritime communications, and next-generation connected land vehicles.

A CAGR exceeding 20% in hardware infrastructure suggests that the industry is moving past initial prototyping and into mass production challenges. The coming decade will likely see intense competition among terminal manufacturers focused on reducing size, weight, power consumption, and, crucially, manufacturing costs to meet the varied demands of consumer and enterprise end-users.

As satellite operators revolutionize space-based infrastructure, this data confirms that the ground segment is rapidly evolving to keep pace, with the flat panel antenna solidifying its position as the preferred interface for next-generation satellite connectivity.

Key Drivers & Context

1. The rapid advancement in satellite communication technologies The primary drivers are the ever-present technological advances. In practical terms, this refers to the shift from Geostationary (GEO) satellites to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations (like Starlink, OneWeb, and Kuiper).

2. The Technology Shift Traditional satellite dishes (parabolic) use mechanical parts to physically turn and face a satellite. Flat panel antennas (often using Phased Array technology) are solid-state. They use software to steer the beam electronically, allowing them to track fast-moving LEO satellites without physically moving.

3. Implications of a 20.9% CAGR A Compound Annual Growth Rate of nearly 21% is exceptionally high for hardware infrastructure. This suggests the technology is moving from a niche military/aviation use case into broader commercial and consumer adoption (e.g., in-flight Wi-Fi, maritime shipping, and connected cars).

SatNews December 9, 2025 — Deploying assets ranging from the new Long March 8A to classified reconnaissance platforms, China has successfully executed four orbital missions in a span of 96 hours, a surge that underscores the nation’s accelerating launch cadence and expanding LEO infrastructure.

The sequence, which concluded early Tuesday, December 9, utilized four different spaceports—Hainan, Taiyuan, Jiuquan, and Xichang—demonstrating the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)’s ability to coordinate simultaneous campaigns across its vast ground segment. This burst of activity comes as Beijing races to establish its national satellite internet infrastructure, known as Guowang (SatNet), and bolster its Yaogan remote sensing capabilities.

Strategic Shift to Commercial and High-Cadence Ports

The flurry of activity began on Saturday, December 6, with a milestone mission from the Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site in Hainan. This marked the successful launch of the Long March 8A, an upgraded variant of the medium-lift vehicle designed specifically for commercial payload aggregation. The mission successfully deployed a group of internet satellites, signaling the operational maturity of China’s newest coastal spaceport, which is intended to relieve pressure on inland military bases.

Following the Hainan debut, operations shifted rapidly to the mainland. On Monday, December 8, a Long March 6A lifted off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. While the specific payload was not disclosed, the Long March 6A is the primary workhorse for the G60/Qianfan megaconstellation, suggesting this mission added capacity to China’s commercial LEO broadband network.

Hours later, the pace intensified with two launches occurring within a short window on December 9. A Long March 4B launched from Jiuquan carrying the Yaogan 47 remote sensing satellite, followed closely by a Long March 3B from Xichang deploying the TJSW-22 (Communication Technology Test Satellite) into a geostationary transfer orbit.

96-Hour Operational Manifest

The Megaconstellation Imperative

This coordinated surge reflects a broader strategic imperative driven by CASC Chairman Wu Yansheng to secure orbital slots and frequencies before the window for LEO deployment narrows. The deployment of the Long March 8A is particularly significant; as a variant capable of carrying 7000 kg to LEO, it is tailored for the high-volume “bus” launches required to build out the 13,000-satellite Guowang constellation.

Simultaneously, the deployment of Yaogan 47 continues the expansion of the People’s Liberation Army’s space-based surveillance network. Western analysts typically categorize the Yaogan series as dual-use or military assets used for maritime monitoring and optical reconnaissance, critical for the PLA’s anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) strategies.

2025 Launch Cadence Outlook

With these four successful missions, China is on track to exceed its 2024 record. The integration of commercial providers is also accelerating; CAS Space is preparing a Kinetica-1 solid rocket for launch from Jiuquan later this week, further augmenting the state-owned CASC manifest. The operationalization of the Hainan commercial pad suggests that 2025 will see a definitive shift toward coastal launches, allowing for larger payload fairings and reduced risk of falling debris over populated inland areas.

PARIS — While the industry’s gaze is fixed on the mega-constellation race in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Eutelsat Group has delivered a potent reminder that Geostationary (GEO) real estate remains the financial bedrock of the global space economy.

The operator confirmed this morning a five-year capacity renewal with beIN MEDIA GROUP, locking in the broadcaster’s presence at the 7/8° West orbital slot. This is not merely a vendor contract; it is a strategic fortification of one of the world’s most valuable orbital neighborhoods against the encroaching tide of IP-based streaming.

The “Hotbird” Economics: 66 Million Reasons to Stay in GEO

To understand the weight of this deal, one must look at the unique physics of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) market. Unlike Europe or North America, where fiber and cable penetration is high, MENA relies heavily on Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite for primary television access.

The 7/8° West slot (occupied by EUTELSAT 7 West A and EUTELSAT 8 West B) is a “Hotbird”—an orbital position where satellite dishes on the ground are permanently pointed.

• Reach: The neighborhood now reaches 66 million TV homes (updated from earlier 50M estimates), representing 95% of the satellite homes in the region.
• The Moat: For a broadcaster like beIN, moving away from 7/8° West would mean asking 66 million households to physically repoint their dishes—a suicidal commercial move. This creates a “defensive moat” for Eutelsat that LEO constellations cannot easily breach.

SatNews Analyst Note: While Starlink and OneWeb offer low-latency connectivity, they cannot compete with the point-to-multipoint economics of GEO video. Sending a 4K live soccer match to 66 million users via IP unicast requires massive bandwidth; sending it via GEO widebeam requires a single transponder.

Stabilizing the Core While Building the Future

This renewal comes at a critical juncture for Eutelsat’s balance sheet. The company is in the midst of a complex integration with OneWeb, pivoting to become a multi-orbit operator.

• The LEO Growth: Eutelsat’s LEO revenues surged +70% in Q1 2025, signaling the future is bright.
• The GEO Reality: However, the Video segment still accounts for nearly 47% of total revenues. Recent quarters have seen a “secular decline” (-10.5% in Q1) in video revenues due to cord-cutting in mature markets and sanctions on Russian channels.

By securing a 5-year commitment from a Tier 1 client like beIN—on the heels of similar renewals with MBC Group and BHS Telecommunications—Eutelsat effectively puts a “floor” under its video revenue decline. This stable cash flow is the “fuel” required to fund the CAPEX-heavy expansion of the OneWeb Gen 2 constellation.

The Content Stakes: World Cup & Premier League

beIN MEDIA GROUP holds some of the most expensive exclusive rights in the world, including the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League, and the English Premier League for the MENA region.

• Reliability: For live sports, “buffering” is unacceptable. The dedicated throughput of Ku-band capacity on EUTELSAT 8 West B ensures 99.999% availability during high-traffic events, a metric that terrestrial internet in the region still struggles to match consistently.

While data moves to LEO, mass-market video remains firmly anchored in the Clarke Belt. Eutelsat has successfully defended its most profitable fortress, buying time and capital to win the multi-orbit war.s for both government and commercial sectors are already being executed under this new framework.

By Chris Forrester — The past few days have seen the business pages full of reports that Elon Musk’s SpaceX could have a value of some $800 billion. The reports had plenty of credibility and built on the truly fabulous success of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 reliability and the similar success of its Starlink broadband system. A second rumour talked of an IPO (an Initial Public Offering) being mounted towards the end of 2026.

Musk promptly scotched the $800 billion reports, saying they were not accurate, and adding: “SpaceX has been cash flow positive for many years and does periodic stock buybacks twice a year to provide liquidity for employees and investors.”

Bloomberg, in its report on the rumours, explained that SpaceX was preparing to sell insider shares in a transaction. Those share sales could indeed value the firm as much as $800 billion. “Such a sale would allow some investors and employees to cash in on some of their holdings,” said Bloomberg.

He also said (on ‘X’) that “valuation increments are a function of progress with Starship and Starlink and securing global direct-to-cell spectrum that greatly increases our addressable market.”

Musk also updated the market that SpaceX is no longer dependent on NASA for a revenue stream.” While I have great fondness for NASA, they will constitute less than 5% of our revenue next year. Commercial Starlink is by far our largest contributor to revenue.  Some people have claimed that SpaceX gets ‘subsidized’ by NASA. This is absolutely false.”

But an $800 billion valuation (itself having doubled over the past year) could just be a precursor to future growth and potential greater valuation. And an increase in overall valuation rathe depends on Musk’s next steps.

Step 1 is already well in hand, and that is the development of SpaceX’s giant – and ruinously expensive – Starship rocket. Gaining success for Starship would reduce the cost per kilogram of launching into orbit, and would cement Musk’s ambition for humankind to be “interplanetary”.

Step 2 is also well in hand, and is represented by Musk’s ‘direct-to-consumer’ schemes. Note we say ‘schemes. First move is to boost the current 8 million broadband customers (up from 7 million in August 2025, and 6 million in June 2025). The potential for 9 million by Spring 2026, and perhaps 10 million by the end of next year is clear.

Step 3 would follow Step 2, and see Musk extend his current Direct-to-Cell (D2D) connectivity. D2D was the hottest of hot topics at the Paris World Satellite Business Week, and again at SatNews’ Silicon Valley Space Week in October. Tarun Gupta (Chief Product Officer and Co-founder of Skylo Technologies) told delegates that Today’s messaging-based services for Internet of Things, or Automotive as well as consumers and emergency SOS or on wearables. How people use these is up to their imaginations. We are seeing dramatic increases in messaging services, and there are plenty of new applications being built on top of these services.”

The larger question is not just whether Musk will extend his existing D2D service (answer: He will), but whether his already connected users will adopt a Starlink Mobile service, and at what cost? Tarun Gupta addressed the challenges, saying: “Everyone seemed to be talking about connectivity when in the middle of a hike in the Yosemite. The reality is that a study we carried out last winter showed that 60% of the users in a trial suffered signal loss when on their way to work! There must be an overlay, and it must work.”

He said that Skylo’s exiting SMS satellite service was seeing plenty of traction from users in New York, New Jersey and other regions which would normally be considered to be well-served by telco. MSS, he said, would make a real difference to the business models. He added that we were not years away from guaranteeing very real connectivity and seamless switching from terrestrial to satellite.

AMSTERDAM — Following a year marked by intensified calls for European autonomy in orbit, organizers of SmallSat Europe have opened the technical call for papers for their 2026 conference. The solicitation comes as the European Union and its member states aggressively ramp up defense spending and constellation development to close the gap with the United States and China.

Sovereignty and the Smallsat Pivot The call for technical abstracts arrives during a critical pivot point for the European space sector. According to recent industry analyses, including reports from McKinsey and the European Commission, Europe’s share of global launches has faced pressure from rapid innovation abroad. In response, major powers are mobilizing significant capital. Germany recently unveiled a national space strategy earmarking billions for security-focused space capabilities, while France has committed more than €4 billion specifically to space defense through 2030.

This strategic shift has placed a premium on the small satellite supply chain, which offers the rapid responsiveness and distributed architecture required for modern “dual-use” defense and commercial applications. SmallSat Europe, now established as the largest dedicated small satellite event on the continent, serves as a primary exchange for the engineering and business solutions underpinning these initiatives.

Technical Tracks and Submission Deadlines The 2026 conference, scheduled for May 26-28 at the RAI Amsterdam, has expanded its technical scope to address these evolving requirements. Organizers are soliciting abstracts across a broad spectrum of disciplines, including systems design, advanced analytics, payload innovation, and ground architecture.

Engineers and researchers must submit abstracts by January 23, 2026. Selected authors will receive notification by February 20, 2026, with final technical papers due by April 30, 2026. Accepted papers will be presented during 15-minute oral sessions or poster presentations and published in the official conference proceedings.

Scaling the Ecosystem The event’s growth mirrors the sector’s expansion. The 2026 edition is projected to host more than 2,000 attendees and 180 exhibitors, a significant increase from previous years. This scale addresses a frequently cited challenge in the European market: fragmentation. By consolidating systems integrators, launch providers, and subsystem manufacturers in a single venue, the conference aims to streamline the cross-border partnerships essential for programs like the EU’s IRIS² secure connectivity constellation.

Schedule and Registration SmallSat Europe 2026 will take place from May 26 to May 28, 2026, at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre. Early bird registration is currently open, with the abstract submission window closing strictly on January 23.

Structuring the Next Decade of Commercial Space

Entering its 11th year, the SmallSat Symposium has released a 2026 agenda that signals a distinct shift from the “new space” experimental era to a phase of industrial maturity and integration. Scheduled for February 10 through February 12 at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California, the event has opened registration with time-sensitive early bird pricing. The 2026 program moves beyond general market optimism to address the specific engineering and regulatory bottlenecks facing high-growth sectors like Direct-to-Device (D2D) and on-orbit edge computing.

SmallSat Industry Trends

The unveiled session tracks reflect three dominant trends currently reshaping the satellite market:

• The D2D Reality Check: While the direct-to-cell market has attracted billions in investment, the engineering challenges remain substantial. The session “Cracking the D2D Code: Engineering Solutions to Power, Doppler & Spectrum Locks” indicates a move away from broad partnership announcements to the technical realities of closing the link budget between moving satellites and standard smartphones.
• From Downlink to Edge Compute: The agenda features multiple sessions, including “Edge of Orbit: Smallsats and the Rise of the Space Data Layer” and “Trust in Orbit: AI, Autonomy & Accountability.” This aligns with the wider industry trend of reducing latency by processing data in space—shifting value from simple data collection (Earth Observation) to actionable intelligence (AI/Analytics).
• Regulatory Saturation: With Low Earth Orbit becoming increasingly crowded, the symposium has prioritized the “Great Spectrum Crunch” and “Space Domain Awareness.” These sessions highlight the critical transition from open skies to a contested, heavily regulated orbital environment where spectrum rights and collision avoidance are now central business risks.

Venue and Market Context

Returning to Silicon Valley, the symposium utilizes the Computer History Museum to underscore the convergence of terrestrial tech and orbital infrastructure. Since its inception more than a decade ago, the event has served as a primary deal-making hub where technical milestones often translate into funding opportunities. The 2026 iteration continues this focus, offering specific tracks on “Navigating the Financial Frontier” to help companies adapt to a capital environment that now demands profitability over growth.

Registration and Schedule

Registration is currently open for the three-day event. Organizers have implemented early bird pricing tiers to encourage early commitment from the international delegation. The program runs from Tuesday, February 10, through Thursday, February 12, 2026.