Insider Brief:
- ESA and Eutelsat Group have signed a new contract to advance critical technologies for next-generation 5G connectivity in Europe, expected by 2026.
- This collaboration, which began in 2018 with OneWeb under the ESA Sunrise Partnership Project, aims to prepare for the next generation of the OneWeb low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation with support from the UK Space Agency.
- A significant milestone was the launch of JoeySat in May 2023, which has shown excellent results in beam hopping and beam tracking for 5G connectivity during a year-long test campaign.
ESA and Eutelsat Group have signed a new contract to advance critical technologies for next-generation 5G connectivity in Europe, expected by 2026. Laurent Jaffart, ESA Director of Connectivity and Secure Communications, and Arlen Kassighian, Chief Engineering Officer at Eutelsat Group, signed the contract at ESA headquarters in Paris.
“I am very pleased to be here, as new Director of CSC at ESA, sharing with our Partner Eutelsat Group an important milestone with the signature of the contract for phase 3 of the Sunrise Partnership Project. ESA is proud to support the space industry in Europe to bring such innovation to the competitive global telecommunications market,” said Laurent Jaffart.
Craig Brown, Investment Director at the UK Space Agency said: “We’re proud to support the Sunrise partnership which has brought together a range of UK companies and European partners to develop the next generation of satellite communications technology. This new phase will continue to build on the capability, capacity and sustainability of Eutelsat Group’s OneWeb’s constellation and catalyse further investment into the commercial space sector.”
This collaboration, which began in 2018 with OneWeb under the ESA Sunrise Partnership Project, aims to prepare for the next generation of the OneWeb low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation with support from the UK Space Agency. The first phase focused on identifying and evaluating new technologies and services for the OneWeb system. The second phase involved maturing and validating key technologies on the ground and in orbit, including digital payloads, a multibeam Gateway antenna, user terminals, and 5G connectivity demonstrations.
A significant milestone was the launch of JoeySat in May 2023, which has shown excellent results in beam hopping and beam tracking for 5G connectivity during a year-long test campaign. Following the merger of OneWeb with Eutelsat in 2023, the newly formed Eutelsat Group is now focusing on deploying its next-generation LEO system. Sunrise Phase 3 will address critical developments to meet Eutelsat Group’s technical needs, transitioning from prototyping to production and paving the way for in-orbit demonstrations in 2026.
The Sunrise Partnership Project aims to deliver seamless global telecom connectivity services using cutting-edge technologies and a ‘new space’ approach. This project positions European industry as a key player in the competitive 5G market, opening up new telecom opportunities.
Arlen Kassighian, Chief Engineering Officer for Eutelsat Group, expressed excitement about the new phase of the Sunrise Partnership Program with ESA. He emphasized that this phase demonstrates their commitment to advancing satellite technology and driving innovation in the space industry. Kassighian highlighted the opportunity to collaborate with talented partners on developing and de-risking cutting-edge technologies for the next generation, maintaining the competitiveness of the European space industry. He mentioned that Eutelsat Group’s incremental approach to rolling out their next-generation system aligns with the Sunrise program, using it as a launchpad for continuous improvement. He also appreciated the support from ESA, the UK Space Agency, and the Romanian Space Agency in fostering an innovation ecosystem.
“I would like to thank our delegates for their continuous support, congratulate Eutelsat Group, all your industrial partners and our teams for the fantastic work done so far,” concluded Laurent Jaffart.
Featured image: Credit: ESA
Share this article:
