La startup española de satélites Sateliot busca 150 millones de euros para transmitir 5G directamente a los smartphones desde el espacio.
**TL;DR**: Sateliot aims to raise up to €150M to introduce satellite-to-smartphone 5G services by 2028, partnering with Telefonica. The EU is allocating airwaves for domestic providers.
Sateliot, a satellite startup based in Barcelona, is looking to secure up to €150 million ($172 million), which is a 50% increase from the €100 million funding round it announced in April. The company manages a network of low-Earth orbit satellites and intends to utilize the funding to launch an additional 16 satellites within the next year. By early 2028, it plans to introduce larger satellites that can transmit 5G data, voice, and video directly to regular smartphones.
"A new opportunity has arisen: integrating 5G with satellite," stated CEO Jaume Sanpera in an interview with Bloomberg. Founded in 2018, Sateliot initially focused on connecting IoT devices, such as shipping trackers and utility sensors, using satellite technology. The shift towards smartphones marks a substantial growth for the company. It is collaborating with Telefonica to develop the technology for direct device connections and has established partnerships with other network operators to extend its coverage in remote regions.
This funding initiative coincides with Europe increasing its investment in satellite technology to reduce reliance on Elon Musk’s Starlink. The European Space Agency is planning to spend €22 billion over the next three years, and the European Commission has suggested setting aside airwaves appropriate for direct-to-device satellite communication for local players. The global satellite connectivity competition is intensifying, with Amazon’s Project Kuiper also moving closer to challenging Starlink. Vodafone, along with AST SpaceMobile through their Satellite Connect Europe venture, is also exploring a similar direct-to-phone service, but its eligibility to use the reserved European spectrum remains uncertain due to the US company's 50% involvement.
Sateliot is still in search of a lead investor for this funding round and has indicated that the extra €50 million could potentially be raised through debt. It expects to secure up to 50% public co-financing for the initiative. The IRIS² project, the European constellation led by Eutelsat, SES, and Hispasat, will initially prioritize broadband services over direct-to-device connections, leaving an opportunity that Sateliot intends to seize. As Starlink continues to increase its prices with expansion, a European option that directly services existing phones and carriers could attract demand from operators hesitant to connect their customers through a network controlled by Musk.
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La startup española de satélites Sateliot busca 150 millones de euros para transmitir 5G directamente a los smartphones desde el espacio.
Sateliot is aiming to raise as much as €150 million to launch 16 satellites next year and provide direct-to-device 5G services by 2028. Europe is allocating spectrum for local companies rather than for Starlink.