Sateliot will test a pioneering system that allows its satellites to connect with IoT devices without relying on satellite navigation systems (GNSS) such as GPS.

This breakthrough opens new opportunities in sectors such as Defense and Security, where Europe’s technological autonomy and operation in “GNSS-denied” environments are strategic priorities.

LEO satellite constellations, such as the one developed by Sateliot, provide coverage in areas beyond the reach of terrestrial networks -over half of the planet’s surface. However, until now, they depended on GNSS, increasing both the energy consumption of devices and terminal costs.

The FreeGNSSNetwork project, signed with ESA and led jointly with GMV, eliminates this dependency using advanced algorithms that enable devices to calculate their position directly from the satellites’ signals. This maintains a stable and accurate connection even under complex conditions such as wartime scenarios.

According to the company, this project represents a paradigm shift and lays the groundwork for developing 6G technology, in which Sateliot actively contributes within the 3GPP framework. FreeGNSSNetwork enables device positioning with an accuracy of approximately 10 meters and provides extremely precise time synchronization services of 50 nanoseconds, the equivalent of 0.00000005 seconds.

The system is currently being tested in laboratories that replicate real satellite communication conditions and will be demonstrated in orbit with prototype satellites and terminals, sending Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) data directly to IoT devices.

According to Jaume Sanpera, co-founder and CEO of Sateliot, “this project positions Spain as a benchmark in satellite innovation and connects the European industry to new IoT and 5G service markets. With this research, Europe gains coverage and connectivity where there was none before, and Spain demonstrates its ability to deliver cutting-edge solutions. It is a dual-use technology, for both civil and defense applications, that enables greater autonomy, resilience, and energy efficiency.”

At a time when terrestrial and space connectivity are converging, UNIVITY, an operator of space-based connectivity services, and Telespazio France, a European leader in satellite operations and services, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

Their objective is to combine their strengths to build a universal and accessible space connectivity offer, from the ground to space. Through this strategic partnership, the two companies bring together space innovation and operational expertise to accelerate the deployment of high-speed internet access, anywhere in the world.

As part of this agreement, Telespazio France will participate in UNIVITY’s test campaigns to evaluate and demonstrate the performance of its solution to civil and defense customers. The ambition is to ultimately integrate UNIVITY’s technology into Telespazio’s service catalog, providing a comprehensive connectivity offer combining ground infrastructures and a Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) constellation.

The global coverage provided by UNIVITY’s future constellation and Telespazio Group’s international presence will make it possible to offer an integrated solution meeting the growing demand for high-speed connectivity in regions that remain underserved today.

UNIVITY stands out for a business model that places telecom operators at the heart of the value chain and a unique technological combination designed to reconcile performance, integration simplicity, and cost efficiency.

At its core lies a telecommunications architecture based on telecom operators’ 5G spectrum, designed to work in synergy with a Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) deployment (<375 km), enabling internet services that cover use cases from high-throughput to Direct-to-Cell (D2C).

This approach paves the way for high-performance, affordable, and sustainable connectivity, including in rural, remote, or crisis-affected areas, complementing existing fiber or cellular networks.

UNIVITY will benefit from Telespazio’s strategic locations and recognized operational expertise, in particular through its worldwide network of teleports. This synergy represents a major asset for UNIVITY, enabling the company to accelerate its deployment and provide solutions that are reliable, cost-effective, and easy to integrate into existing telecom operators’ infrastructures worldwide, as well as for governmental and public services.

The two partners are also considering joint initiatives in other space-related markets addressed by Telespazio France, such as satellite-based population alert systems or space surveillance. This opportunity is based on the possibility of embarking secondary payloads during the deployment of the UNIVITY constellation—secondary missions that would enhance the value of the constellation and help meet the growing needs for security, resilience, and digital sovereignty.

According to Charles Delfieux, President and Founder of UNIVITY, “This agreement marks a strategic milestone for UNIVITY and confirms our ambition: to build a hybrid connectivity model combining the strengths of terrestrial and space networks. Together with Telespazio France, we are asserting a global vision of connectivity, universal and competitive.”

Corinne Mailles, Deputy CEO of Telespazio France, said, “This partnership with UNIVITY is fully aligned with Telespazio France’s ambition to support the NewSpace ecosystem through our ‘Operations as a Service’ model. As a trusted operator for French and European institutions and a meta-operator facilitating Defense access to NewSpace, we are proud to contribute to the emergence of a new European space connectivity offer.”

Southern Launch and Varda Space Industries have signed a landmark agreement to facilitate 20 additional spacecraft returns at the Koonibba Test Range through to 2028, cementing South Australia’s position as a global hub for orbital re-entry operations.

The new contract builds on the success of the W-Series missions, including the historic W-2 mission, which marked the world’s first commercial spacecraft landing to a commercial spaceport in February 2025. The W-3 mission landing at the Koonibba Test Range just 10 weeks later demonstrates Southern Launch’s capacity to support high-cadence orbital returns.

The 20 new missions will see Varda’s in-space manufacturing capsules return to Earth with payloads that have made novel pharmaceuticals in orbit or conducted experiments in microgravity. The capsules re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere at Mach 25 and land under parachute in the Koonibba Test Range, which Southern Launch operates in partnership with the Koonibba Community Aboriginal Corporation.

Varda and Southern Launch are the two key commercial entities leading the global emerging orbital economy. Together, the two companies have formed a valuable partnership that serves as a shining example of new space companies collaborating to bring home products made in space, benefiting people on Earth.

This new agreement between the companies will cement Australia’s role as the leader in commercial space launch and returns, and secure landing space for Varda’s future missions, which are planned to increase to a near-monthly cadence by the end of 2028.

Southern Launch and Varda will continue to collaborate on the W-Series missions, with the W-4 and W-5 missions scheduled to re-enter at the Koonibba Test Range by the end of this year.

Southern Launch CEO, Lloyd Damp, said the agreement reflects the growing demand for reliable re-entry infrastructure as the global in-space manufacturing economy becomes standard practice and grows. “This contract is a vote of confidence in our team and our facilities. With each successful mission, we’re proving that the Koonibba Test Range is the best place on Earth to bring space technology home Routine re-entries are no longer a dream; they are happening now, and we are proud to lead the way alongside Varda.”

Varda Chief Revenue Officer, Eric Lasker, said, “Products improved through production off Earth are within reach. Our partnership with Southern Launch is the lynchpin to realizing this new economy, and Varda’s increasing cadence is only possible due to the exceptional quality of work consistently delivered by the Southern Launch team. With this new contract we are thrilled to take another step towards the future.”

Premier and Minister for Defence and Space Industries, Peter Malinauskas, said the announcement represented a huge step forward for the state’s space ecosystem. “To establish South Australia as the first commercial spaceport to accept commercial returns speaks volumes to our reputation as a global leader in this field. Southern Launch securing these additional missions with Varda to enable their commercial space return operations reinforces our state’s position as a trusted, strategic location for this capability.”

Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Joe Szakacs, said the South Australian Government would continue to work closely with industry to unlock further opportunities. “South Australia is one of the few places in the world that can offer land-based returns like this in a comparably safe environment. Our government will continue to work collaboratively with the sector to deliver mutually beneficial outcomes.”

Tusass, Greenland’s national provider of telecommunications services, has signed a strategic. multi-year agreement to bring Eutelsat’s OneWeb LEO connectivity to Greenland—this expanded partnership will enable the delivery of secure and resilient communications across the country’s vast and remote territory.

Tusass will leverage Eutelsat’s OneWeb network to address a wide range of connectivity needs, from community broadband access to mission-critical infrastructure, including maritime, mobility, and emergency services. The deployment supports Tusass in delivering on its strategic objectives for digital inclusion, infrastructure integration, and sovereign capacity across Greenland.

Eutelsat’s OneWeb satellites operate in a polar orbit, enabling seamless high-latitude coverage and ensuring low latency, high-speed connectivity in Arctic conditions. This capability is especially critical for Greenland, where many areas lack access to terrestrial infrastructure. OneWeb’s proven resilience in challenging environments such as Northern Canada further underscores its reliability across similarly remote Arctic regions.

As resilience and sovereignty become top priorities for Arctic and European nations, this partnership reinforces Eutelsat’s role as a trusted enabler of secure, sovereign-grade connectivity solutions.

Cyril Dujardin, President of the Connectivity Business Unit at Eutelsat, said, “Critical infrastructure has become a key focus area across Europe, and we are delighted to continue our work with Tusass to support its efforts in connecting remote communities, backbone infrastructure, and enabling essential services such as rescue operations and maritime security and safety. Our expanded partnership highlights the growing relevance of LEO for both resiliency and redundancy, and for meeting the evolving sovereign and commercial connectivity needs of remote regions. As Arctic nations seek to reinforce their infrastructure Eutelsat delivers a unique capability to connect communities and critical systems, wherever they are.”

Toke Binzer, Tusass Chief Executive Officer, said, “Greenland presents one of the world’s most complex connectivity challenges. By partnering with Eutelsat and its OneWeb LEO solution, we are strengthening our ability to meet the needs of our people and institutions— from everyday internet access to robust national communications infrastructure. This agreement reflects our commitment to resilient, future-proof connectivity that serves all society.”

Communication to and from space certainly rides at the top of nearly everyone’s ‘to do’ lists these days and Kiyohara Optics, ArkEdge Space, NICT and SoftBank Corporation have agreed to collaborate on the advancement to create demos of optical wireless comms between space and the stratosphere as well space and the ground.

The first demo is targeting a LEO launch in 2026 that will, hopefully, verify the viability of comms between space and the ground. Then, in 2027, optical wireless devices will be installed on a High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) to verify the ability to send bidirectional optical wireless comms between space and the stratosphere that will witness the LEO spacecraft orbiting the Earth at high speed and covering a distance of as much as 2,000 kilometers… quite ambitious and a tech project that is undeniably demanding for those involved.

With optical wireless communication, frequency allocation and licenses for wireless comms are no longer needed. Ultra-narrow, highly direction beams are required by this tech and the challenge will be to establish and well as maintain stable communication.

Softbank’s Advanced Technology Research Institute has authored a blog article that delves into optical wireless comms in non-terrestrial networks (NTN).

OQ Technology has joined the membership in the Mobile Satellite Services Association (MSSA), an industry effort to progress the development of direct-to-device (D2D) IoT and other advanced Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) connectivity.

MSSA, which was launched in February of 2024, seeks to develop a global ecosystem using  L- and S-band spectrum, which is already allocated and licensed for mobile satellite services (MSS). This spectrum is well-suited for integration into a broad range of mobile devices.

OQ Technology holds 60 MHz of priority MSS S-band and, by being part of the organization, will leverage the active and collaborative conversation with the members for the better use of NTN and D2D over LEO and GEO satellites in the MSS S-band. Through the coordinated deployment of technical standards and enhancement of regulatory frameworks, the MSSA drives new initiatives to foster support for MSS-based services leveraging the 3GPP mobile standards.  

The Association’s members, along with other ecosystem players, support integrating terrestrial and non-terrestrial to deliver scalable, sustainable, and affordable connectivity to any device, anytime, anywhere. Advanced NTN services can expand connectivity and enable competition across multiple large and diverse segments, including cellular, industrial, government, agriculture, automotive, and others.  

For more information on the formation and mission of MSSA, visit the Association’s website.

A new contract for GomSpace—a smallsat company with a 75 satellite mission track record—has been received by the company, valued at 760,000 euros.

The European Space Agency, ESA, is the contract originator, concerns the acceleration of the firm’s Attitude and Orbit Control (AOCS) software development. Without such crucially important tech, in-space, spacecraft control cannot be accomplished.

For GomSpace, this is a major step forward to ensure operational reliability and the ability to be ready for mission profiles and requirements that are constantly evolving. AOCS addresses implementation of the firm’s Attitude Determination Control System (ADCS), the NanoMind A3200, an onboard computer GomSpace designed for smallsats, within which attitude control via a 3-axis gyroscope and a magnetometer for magnetic sensing and actuation is handled. This computer handles communication with all GomSpace provided sensors, communication with GomSpace actuators and propulsion system and opens the possibility for customer implemented drivers to support other sensors and actuators.

The AOCS offers a Linux compile function for test and simulation processes and, included, is a Software Development Kit (SDK) for Command and Control for handling all low-level and platform setups.

With all of smallsat industry growth and the contracts being received by GomSpace, how can the firm adequately address the needs being clamored for by companies and organizations?

Back in July of 2025, the company entered into a strategic supply agreement with Danish electronics manufacturer NECAS to do exactly that… strengthen GomSpace’s production scalability for products and subsystems as well as to reduce lead times amid increasing global demand for satellites and satellite subsystems. Additional information regarding that particular contract is available at this direct link…

The CEO of GomSpace, Carsten Drachmann, stated that through embracing modern, model-based software engineering, flexibility and systematic reliability are achieved by the company, enabling the delivery of standardized hardware systems and platforms.

For more information regarding GomSpace, please access this direct link…

Exolaunch and Skyroot Aerospace have announced a Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) to provide end-to-end launch services for satellites and expand access to orbit for commercial, institutional, and government customers worldwide.

Through this agreement, Exolaunch will integrate and deploy customer satellites on Skyroot’s Vikram series of launch vehicles, beginning with the Vikram-1 orbital missions. Exolaunch will provide its flight-proven deployment technologies for Skyroot customers across dedicated and rideshare launches.

The partnership also includes the use of Exolaunch’s EXOtube payload stacks, designed to optimize multi-payload rideshare configurations, streamline constellation launches, increase mission flexibility, and enhance vehicle utilization.

Skyroot’s Vikram-1 is an all-carbon composite launch vehicle designed to provide on-demand and customizable launch solutions to small satellite operators. With a payload capacity of up to 350 kg to LEO. Vikram-1 addresses the growing demand for responsive and cost-effective space access. Skyroot is simultaneously developing Vikram-2, which will nearly double capacity with payloads up to 900 kg to LEO, expanding the company’s addressable market.

Both companies will collaborate on comprehensive launch campaign planning, satellite integration, and on-site mission execution to deliver seamless launch services to global satellite operators.

We’re proud to formalize and announce our new strong partnership in India. Skyroot’s Vikram rockets bring an impressive new capability and much anticipated launch capacity to the global launch ecosystem,” said Robert Sproles, CEO of Exolaunch. “Together, we will expand reliable, flexible, and cost-effective access to orbit for customers worldwide.”

Democratizing access to space requires an integrated solution that seamlessly addresses every aspect of a satellite customer’s journey — from mission planning to integration to launch,” said Pawan Kumar Chandana, Co-Founder and CEO, Skyroot Aerospace. “Through our partnership with Exolaunch, a company with extensive global satellite integration and deployment heritage, Skyroot aims to provide a launch experience that is comprehensive and tailored to the needs of the modern space economy.”

Flexell Space and Dcubed GmbH signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2025 in Sydney, Australia.

The agreement establishes a strategic partnership to explore future opportunities in space power and deployable technologies. By aligning their complementary expertise, Flexell Space and Dcubed aim to strengthen innovation and expand cooperation across the global space sector.

Beyond technology, the partnership also highlights closer ties between Europe and South Korea, reinforcing international collaboration and opening pathways for future cooperation in global markets.

Taehun Ahn, CEO of Flexell Space, said, “This collaboration demonstrates the global recognition of our solar cell technology. Flexell Space’s innovative solar cells are characterized by 90% weight reduction, 60% cost savings, and enhanced durability against radiation and extreme temperatures compared to conventional space solar cells. By combining our expertise in lightweight solar cells with Dcubed’s proven deployable solar array systems, we can deliver a new class of reliable, scalable, and sustainable power solutions for satellites.”

Antonio Pedivellano, Director of Deployables at Dcubed, said, “Collaborating with Flexell Space is an important step toward fostering new opportunities in space technology. Together, we will explore solutions that meet the evolving needs of the satellite industry worldwide.”

Spire Global, Inc. (NYSE: SPIR) has been awarded a €3 million contract renewal by EUMETSAT—this renewal is part of a two-year operational contract starting August 14, 2025.

Through the contract, the Company will continue to provide radio occultation (RO) data. The Company’s RO data delivers information about the vertical profiles of pressure, humidity, and temperature across all points of the globe, including in the most remote regions and open oceans.

Spire will provide the data in near-real time, with EUMETSAT processing and disseminating it to national weather agencies across Europe and the broader World Meteorological Organization (WMO) community for integration into global forecast models.

Spire offers a vast portfolio of current weather data, historical weather data, and weather forecast solutions. Most recently, the Company introduced two AI-driven weather models, AI-WX and AI-S2S, which extend forecasting capabilities up to 45 days and provide probabilistic insights to help industries better anticipate and respond to extreme weather events.