Eutelsat will launch twenty-five nanosatellites in three years

Eutelsat's ELO nanosatellite constellation, which will be deployed over the next three years, will work with Sigfox's IoT network to provide services to the Internet of Things.

The European satellite operator Eutelsat Communications Launch Twenty-five nanosatellites over the next three years to provide connections for devices connected to the Internet of Things (IoT).

The first two nanosatellites, each costing up to €1 million, significantly lower than the usual costs in deploying larger space systems, will be built by Loft Orbital in San Francisco and the following two by Clyde Space in Glasgow.

The constellation, called Low Earth Orbit (ELO), will work with Sigfox's IoT network in transportation, oil and gas, and agriculture applications.

The expected dates of Launch in 2020 and 2021 They will allow the first four satellites to enter commercial service as soon as they reach orbit. If successful, additional satellites will be added to the constellation, bringing the total to 25 operational satellites in 2022.

This constellation project is the continuation of a first nanosatellite commissioned by Eutelsat to Tyvak International last year and whose launch is scheduled for the beginning of next year. This test satellite will confirm the technical behavior of various waveforms between a satellite in low-Earth orbit and objects on the ground.

The strategic partnership with Sigfox, which will integrate the global coverage provided by the ELO constellation into its existing range of IoT connectivity services. This opens up applications in areas such as maritime transport or logistics, but also in the safety of people in emergency situations.

Rodolphe Belmer, CEO of Eutelsat, said: "We are delighted to complete the first steps of our ELO constellation project, which aims to position Eutelsat in the nascent IoT segment. Our partnership with Sigfox enables worldwide coverage through the combination of terrestrial and satellite IoT. This relatively modest investment at Group level, which is fully scalable, allows Eutelsat to access an additional potential growth lever in the context of its connectivity strategy."

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