Constellation.global, a French start-up developing a constellation of ultra-low orbit satellites to support 5G space connectivity for telecom operators, has successfully raised €9.3 million in funding for two satellites to deliver high-speed, low-latency internet access from space.
The funding comes from Expansion, a venture capital company that is backed by the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Union, and some public and private financial institutions, and from Bpifrance, managing the French Tech Seed fund on behalf of the French government.
The growing low-orbit broadband market today is mainly being captured by emerging telecom operators, such as SpaceX’s Starlink, Amazon’s Kuiper, the UK/French OneWeb, or Chinese projects. These new entrants are developing satellite B2C constellations with several thousands of satellites.
It is the first time that telecommunications history has seen the global market for high-speed, low-latency internet from space increasingly expanding because of the convergence in performance and pricing between terrestrial and satellite connectivity.
Therefore, telecom operators need solutions that allow them to tap into this new space-based connectivity market and provide internet access from space to complement their terrestrial networks.
Founded in 2022, Constellation.global addresses this challenge by developing a B2B2C constellation of satellites aimed at telecom operators worldwide. The startup enables telecom operators to offer their customers high-performance, affordable, and sustainable internet access from space, particularly in areas where terrestrial networks are unavailable.
It stands out with two key technological innovations, including ensuring high-speed connectivity with minimal latency by deploying its constellation in Very Low Earth Orbit while supporting more sustainable use of space by decreasing the risks of space debris and light pollution. However, regular replacement of the satellites is still required.
The company also has adopted telecom operators’ terrestrial 5G spectrum for space-based connectivity to offer operators alternative access to unsaturated spectrum. Potential markets will include maritime operations, in-flight connectivity, railways, and automotive.
This new funding will enable the French startup to employ its first end-to-end connectivity tests on the ground and in orbit, as well as complete detailed engineering studies for the first two satellites of its constellation.
The startup currently has around 30 employees working across its offices in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines and Toulouse, France.
