French tech startup company, Constellation Technologies and Operations has entered a collaboration with Telecom operators to enhance innovation across the world.
The collaboration aims to disrupt the telecom industry by offering space-based 5G internet services to achieve universal connectivity.
By leveraging existing telecom assets, Constellation seeks to provide satellite broadband similar to Starlink, as telecoms handle customer relationships while Constellation supplies the capacity and technology.
The CEO and founder of Constellation Technologies, Charles Delfieux, in a comment on the industry’s shifting landscape revealed that the recent update is a striking development that would transform the world.
“For the first time in the history of space and telecommunication, we are basically witnessing a convergence between space and terrestrial connectivity in terms of performance and price,”
“That convergence is basically making those sought-after, cost-effective solutions to deliver connectivity as something that is completely achievable,” he said.
“If you want to really achieve ubiquitous, universal connectivity, the only way to do that is to leverage space technologies,” Delfieux emphasized.
Techparley correspondent gathered that Delfieux, with a background as a program manager at the World Bank, understands the global challenges of internet accessibility.
He founded Constellation Technologies byin 2022 with the vision of expanding access to reliable, affordable internet through space technologies.
Deluxe further added that one of the critical factors behind the company’s plan is its repurposing of the 5G spectrum for space-based connectivity.
This spectrum, typically used for terrestrial communication, can also enable cellular signals to reach orbit if managed correctly.
The idea is for Constellation to collaborate with telecoms, allowing them to offer these satellite services while remaining competitive against newcomers like SpaceX’s Starlink and Amazon’s Kuiper.
“Established national, regional, traditional telecom operators, they are seeing these very powerful, very influential players…start delivering broadband services from space. We basically want to be the ones providing a telco-friendly solution,” Delfieux explained.
He said the company’s innovative approach includes launching satellites into very low Earth orbit (around 375 kilometers), which will enhance performance while keeping costs low by using mass-produced components designed for 5G terrestrial networks.
Techparley also gathered that the company has an ambitious goal of launching a constellation of 1,500 satellites to achieve global coverage as it has already secured €9.3 million ($10.2 million) in seed funding to kickstart its mission.
The company’s first steps include testing the technology with a hosted payload by June 2025, followed by prototype satellite launches in 2026, and deploying production satellites the following year.
Delfieux also mentioned that the company sees the collaboration as vital for the future so that telecom operators can compete with new entrants.
