€9.3m for European 5G space broadband
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French startup Constellation Technologies & Operations has raised €9.3m for two satellites to provide low latency broadband from orbit on 5G frequencies.
The funding will enable Constellation to conduct its first end-to-end connectivity tests on the ground and in orbit, and complete detailed engineering studies for the first two space broadband satellites for launch by the end of 2026.
The backing comes from Expansion, which is a fund dedicated to New Space and New Air Mobility, and the French Tech Seed fund managed by Bpifrance on behalf of the French government, as part of the France 2030 plan in addition to its historical investor.
The growing low orbit broadband market is largely being captured by new telecom entrants, particularly US projects like SpaceX’s Starlink and Amazon’s Kuiper, along with Chinese ambitions and the UK/French OneWeb. These players are already developing or operating satellite B2C constellations, with several thousands of satellites.
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Constellation Technologies & Operations was founded in 2022 by Charles Delfieux to address this challenge by developing a B2B2C constellation of satellites aimed at telecoms operators worldwide. It is planning to use Very Low Earth Orbit for high-speed connectivity with minimal latency. It also supports a more sustainable use of space by reducing the risks of space debris and light pollution, but will require a more regular replacement of the satellites.
It also aims to repurpose telecom operators’ terrestrial 5G spectrum for space-based connectivity. This approach provides operators with alternative access to unsaturated spectrum.
The start-up employs around 30 people working across its offices in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines and Toulouse, France.
The company plans to industrialize and mass-produce the satellites, user terminals, and the overall system, with a phased rollout of its space broadband connectivity service.
“We are thrilled to have secured this funding, which will allow us to continue developing our constellation and help telecom operators unlock the enormous potential of space-based connectivity. Our mission is to bridge the digital divide and provide universal internet access, empowering telecom operators to serve customers even in the most remote areas,” said Charles Delfieux, CEO and founder of Constellation Technologies & Operations.