Eutelsat’s software-defined satellite enters commercial service

Europe’s first commercial satellite capable of being completely reprogrammed while in space is now in commercial use.

Satellite operator Eutelsat has sold six of its eight beams – used for data and mobile communications – to organizations, including governments and other users. The expectation is that the satellite’s entire capacity will be sold in the coming months.

The satellite – Eutelsat Quantum – was launched on July 30, 2021, by an Ariane 5 from Europe’s spaceport in French Guiana. The satellite offers unprecedented mission reconfiguration capacity. Its beams can be reshaped and redirected to provide information to people on moving planes, trucks and cars in close to real time.

Arianespace’s Ariane 5 liftoff with the Eutelsat Quantum and StarOne D2 payloads on July 30, 2021. Photo is courtesy of Arianespace.

Eutelsat Quantum is a collaboration under an ESA Partnership Project between Eutelsat and satellite manufacturer Airbus, with significant support from the UK Space Agency. The technologies were developed and manufactured in the UK and in Spain, with additional contributions from companies based in Canada, Italy, Norway and the Netherlands.

Elodie Via, Director of Telecommunications and Integrated Applications at ESA, said, “ESA’s Partnership Projects help to federate industry around large-scale programmes that have a demonstrable economic impact. This satellite commercialisation represents a major milestone for this successful ESA Partnership Project, creating jobs and prosperity across ESA’s Member States.”