24 Nov 2025

The four satellites join a constellation designed to validate next-gen direct-to-device connectivity from orbit under an activity directed by the European Space Agency’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) Core Competitiveness programme line.

Four new satellites have been launched featuring the fifth-generation satellite gateways developed by Lacuna Space, with support from the European Space Agency (ESA) Connectivity and Secure Communications directorate. The satellites were launched into orbit as part of a mission to advance direct-to-device satellite connectivity. The gateway payloads have an IoT message throughput capacity twenty times greater than previous gateways – a key feature for their commercial viability.

Named Wisdom of the Trail, this mission is composed of four satellites that will join an existing constellation already in orbit. Each satellite in this mission is equipped with the new generation IoT gateway that is designed to provide signal coverage for low-power sensors in remote areas, where ground-based telecom and power infrastructure are non-existent.

The development goal of this technology is to increase the gateway’s throughput capacity in order to lower the cost of service for operators and enable satellite IoT to play a larger role in addressing global challenges.

Wisdom of the Trail was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, US, on a rideshare mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 on 28 November 2025 at 19:44 am CET (10:44 pm PT). Supported under ARTES’ Core Competitiveness general programme line, Wisdom of the Trail is part of a multi-mission “Internet of Things Constellation (IoT) pre-cursor demonstration” activity, joining two satellites previously launched into orbit earlier this year.

Lacuna Space was founded in 2016 under ESA’s Business Incubator Centre at the agency’s ECSAT site in Harwell with backing from the UK Space Agency. In 2020, the company successfully entered ESA Connectivity and Secure Communications’ ARTES programme by completing its first satellite and proof of concept. Working closely with ARTES, Lacuna Space developed its technology into fully-fledged in-orbit demonstration within five years. With Wisdom of the Trail, Lacuna Space now counts no less than 15 satellites in orbit to refine their IoT solution.

To date, IoT applications have faced the same challenges as mobile telephony: terrestrial communication infrastructure does not provide sufficiently complete global coverage. Low-cost in-orbit infrastructure can ensure global satellite connectivity, even in sparsely populated areas where building terrestrial network would be impossible or not economically viable. Lacuna Space’s solution will enable IoT applications in these remote locations by allowing satellites to receive short messages from commercially available sensors – such as temperature and pressure gauges – in a direct-to-device link.

The IoT gateway technology onboard the Wisdom of the Trail satellites is built on technology first tested on high-altitude balloon experiments. Lacuna Space developed this technology to enable reliable satellite connectivity with low-cost and low-power requirements. With these new satellites, Wisdom of the Trail will pave the way for the wider deployment of Lacuna Space’s IoT gateway on partner satellites. Each satellite bearing this payload will expand and benefit from shared IoT coverage whilst strengthening the Lacuna Network.

“Direct-to-device technologies are crucial to bridging the digital divide,” said Domenico Mignolo, Head of Technology and Products Division at ESA Connectivity and Secure Communications. “By working with industry, we are able to foster an ecosystem of space technologies that will bring life-changing solutions where terrestrial systems simply can’t reach.”

“When we started Lacuna, people told us the idea of tiny IoT sensors talking directly to satellites was impossible,” said Rob Spurrett, CEO and co-founder of Lacuna Space. “Today, direct-to-device connectivity has become one of the most dynamic areas of the satellite industry. We’re proud that our early work helped lay the foundations for what’s now a global movement.”

This approach reflects the collaborative, ecosystem-driven approach that underpins Lacuna Space’s technological development. By partnering with emerging UK spacecraft suppliers, Lacuna Space has been able to focus on developing these advanced payloads while leveraging the maturing NewSpace ecosystem to accelerate time to market.

With the deployment of these fifth-generation gateways, Lacuna Space marks a step forward in scaling direct-to-device IoT and setting the stage for a new era of efficient, low-cost global connectivity.

24 Oct 2025

WideNorth AS, a major Norwegian player in signal processing and satellite communication, has reached a significant milestone with the successful commercialisation of its Payload Data Handling and Transmitter (PDHT) based on Software Defined Radio. Developed under the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) programme, this payload is now a powerful candidate for all those missions requiring both high downlink rates and high data storage capacity.

The ARTES Core Competitiveness programme, particularly its Competitiveness and Growth element within the Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications, is designed to foster innovation and commercially viable products in the European space telecommunications sector. It supports companies in developing cutting-edge technologies that can be rapidly brought to market. WideNorth’s PDHT project exemplifies this mission, demonstrating how ESA’s support can accelerate the path from research to  a product ready for the commercial market.

The PDHT features a Ka-band 5Gbps downlink transmitter integrated with high-capacity solid-state data storage. This combination allows for rapid and reliable data transmission from LEO satellites, even under cloudy conditions where optical links may falter. Unlike other radio frequency transmitters that offer lower throughput, WideNorth’s solution achieves multi-Gbps  downlinks while maintaining operational reliability in adverse weather. Equipped with radiation-tolerance measures and allowing graceful degradation by design, the PDHT targets five-year mission lifetimes. The off-the-shelf nature of the PDHT also reduces costs and simplifies integration for satellite operators.

The payload has already been selected for a number of missions, including one under the Norwegian National Space Programme. This early adoption underscores the growing demand for high-performance, cost-effective satellite communication solutions. WideNorth’s success highlights the strategic importance of public-private partnerships in advancing Europe’s space capabilities.

“This project showcases the power of collaboration between ESA and industry. WideNorth’s achievement is a testament to the innovation we aim to foster through ARTES,” says Joan Fort Alsina, ESA Technical Officer and Telecommunication Product Engineer within ESA Connectivity and Secure Communications.

“The PDHT payload is a great example of how ESA’s ARTES Core Competitiveness programme helps European companies bring competitive products to market. It’s a win for both industry and the broader space ecosystem,” said Domenico Mignolo, Head of the Technologies and Products Division at ESA Connectivity and Secure Communications.

21 Oct 2025

A Belgian company specialising in cloud-based solutions for the telecommunications industry – neXat – has recently presented its newly developed product, neXat Satellite Services Aggregation Platform (neXat SAP) for the management of satellite connectivity. Featuring the capabilities of operations support system (OSS), business support system (BSS) as well as a virtual teleport functionality, the product has earned awards and recognition for offering an end-to-end managed service as the first and only satellite specific, cloud-based platform of its kind on the market.

The neXat SAP project research and development was funded jointly from ESA’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) Core Competitiveness programme, with the support of the Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO). Shortly after completion, the platform has won the award for the technology of the year from the World Teleport Association – a world-leading trade association in the business of satellite communications – followed by the SatellitePro Manufacturer Awards‘ Best Next Gen Satellite Application.

neXat’s solution for a virtualised platform as a service (PaaS) aggregates satellite teleports’ infrastructure and satellite operator’s bandwidth across multiple orbits from geostationary orbit (GEO) to medium and low Earth orbits (MEO and LEO). Clients of the platform can manage and monitor multiple bandwidth resources as a Virtual Network Operator (VNO). The solution further improves the efficiency of traffic shaping, and optimises available bandwidth resources while leveraging on existing infrastructure.

The demand for seamless integration of virtual teleport technologies is already there with potential customers having already requested the opportunity to purchase neXat’s virtual teleport services.

“We are proud to have contributed to the development of the virtual teleport functionality of this new neXat product. Streamlining and optimising connectivity across different elements of satellite network infrastructure is one of the best ways to provide cost-effective connectivity solutions for people and businesses. By developing this technology with neXat, we ensure that Europe is where new, innovative solutions for space telecommunications are born, providing a net benefit for each and every Member State,” said Marc Welter, the Technical Officer handling the cooperation with neXat from ESA’s Connectivity and Secure Communications.

“We are redefining the way the satellite communications industry manages complex satellite-based networks through the advanced and unique capabilities of our platform. This is a platform made for the satellite industry by satellite experts, and we’re incredibly happy for our work and innovation to be recognised by our peers,” said neXat Chief Commercial Officer Michel Dothey.

21 Oct 2025

In another win for public-private cooperation between the European Space Agency (ESA) and an international company – Viasat plans to commercialise its new in-flight connectivity terminal technology. A result of long-standing and robust cooperation between ESA Connectivity and Secure Communications directorate and the Swiss-based Viasat Antenna Systems, under the Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) programme, promising seamless in-flight connectivity for airlines and private users.

Over four years of cooperation, where ESA has co-financed and provided technical consultation for the project, Viasat has successfully implemented the Aeronautical Terminal Demonstration Project, Aidan, and Ground Terminal Demonstration Project, Spark – delivering two variants of a single beam phased array antenna for air and ground vehicles respectively. The single beam aeronautical phased array antenna was demonstrated on a test flight across Europe and multiple flights across the US in 2021, laying the foundation for a new commercial product. The land-mobile phased array antenna was demonstrated on multiple experimental vehicles and long-haul buses across Europe and Brazil in 2023.

Following the lessons learned developing Aidan, Viasat moved on to a more ambitious challenge: developing a dual-beam phased array antenna, instead of a single-beam one. This improvement ensures redundancy, enabling uninterrupted data exchange even when the satellite link switches between beams from independent connection sources. The resulting product is Viasat Aera, a next generation terminal technology that supports dual beam, simultaneous connection to geostationary (GEO) and non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellites It also incorporates a number of innovative features such as enabling intelligent routing of traffic at the application-level and includes a modular design that facilitates integration with a wide range of airborne and ground-based platforms. 

Building on the innovation of Viasat Aidan, Viasat Aera offers simultaneous connectivity across Viasat’s and partner satellites in geostationary (GEO), highly elliptical, and low Earth orbits (LEO). This enables a best-in-class in-flight connectivity experience for airlines and passengers.

Commercial service for Viasat Aera is expected to begin in 2028. The terminal is designed for backward compatibility with existing onboard hardware, making it suitable for most aircraft using earlier-generation antennas.

“Phased Array Antennas are an evolutionary and much needed step towards more energy and space efficient in-flight connectivity solutions, and we are proud to have contributed to Project Aidan – a key milestone that led Viasat to developing Amara. We’re looking forward to next opportunities for cooperation with Viasat, and many other industry partners – for the benefit of all ESA Member States,” said Massimiliano Simeoni, Aidan’s Project Implementation Manager at ESA’s Connectivity and Secure Communications.

“The Viasat Aera terminal is a key part of Viasat Amara, our next generation IFC solution going far beyond fast and free high-speed Wi-Fi,” said Viasat on its Viasat Amara announcement. “Our pioneering mission remains to help our airline customers maximise connectivity’s enormous potential for brand, loyalty, and growth. It’s been great to work with ESA as one of our key partners to help bring it to fruition.”