Sateliot, European satellite telecommunications operator, has been chosen by the European Space Agency (ESA) to intervene in the consolidation phase of pre-operational activities and risk mitigation of the Low-LEO layer of IRIS2. Its contribution will be articulated through the Rescue-NET project (Resilient European Sovereign Communications Unified Ecosystem - NTN).
As part of this initiative, the company will analyze future use scenarios supported by Direct-to-Device (D2D) connectivity and secure IoT solutions, as it communicated this Friday.
The firm will be responsible for defining how the capabilities of non-terrestrial networks (NTN), supported by the 3GPP standard for the integration of satellite and terrestrial networks, can enhance resilient and sovereign communications for European institutional users.
CONNECTIVITY IN EMERGENCIES AND REMOTE AREAS
The use cases range from ensuring service continuity to enabling connectivity in emergencies and in remote areas where terrestrial infrastructures do not reach. The CEO of Sateliot, Jaume Sanpera, has pointed out that "being selected by the ESA to contribute to the Low-LEO layer of IRIS2 helps to consolidate the architecture and future network concepts necessary for European sovereignty."
"Our job is to define how standard 5G connectivity from space can provide governments with a resilient and independent link when it is most needed, ensuring service continuity in emergency situations and in places where terrestrial networks are not available," he added.
For his part, the director of resilience, navigation, and connectivity of the ESA, Laurent Jaffart, has stated that secure connectivity is "fundamental for the resilience and strategic autonomy of Europe." "Therefore, the ESA, together with the European Commission and the industry, is looking to the future and exploring the capabilities and technologies that can help Europe respond to its future connectivity needs," he asserted.
IRIS2 is the third major space program of the European Union, after Galileo and Copernicus, and is being deployed in a staggered manner. The contract awarded to Sateliot within this framework is specified in Rescue-NET.
The development of the project coincides with Sateliot's preparation for the launch in 2027 of its next-generation Tritó satellites. "The underlying issue is sovereignty, since a Europe that controls its own connectivity, from the standard on which it operates to the place where its data is stored, is a stronger Europe," the executive of the Catalan company has elaborated.