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Sateliot successfully
launches five new satellites into its 5G NTN IoT
constellation
2 October 2026.
Sateliot has successfully
launched five new satellites for its 5G NTN IoT
network as scheduled, enabling the company to
increase connection frequency and service capacity
in areas without terrestrial mobile coverage. With
this mission, named Draconis, the company brings the
total number of satellites launched since its
foundation to 11 and advances the commercial
deployment of a technology that has already been
validated.
With the nominal initial status
of all five units confirmed, their incorporation
into the constellation will reduce the time between
satellite passes and increase connection
opportunities for devices. Specifically, they will
double the average number of daily passes and halve
revisit time.
In addition, the five new units
incorporate technological improvements compared with
the four satellites launched in 2024, including an
optimized payload and a more reliable and efficient
onboard data storage system.
They also feature upgraded
versions of the onboard central computer and
attitude control system, providing greater stability
and facilitating in-orbit manoeuvres, as well as
memory systems that are more resilient to space
conditions, particularly radiation.
These five units, which will
orbit at an altitude of 510 km, incorporate the
connectivity technology developed by Sateliot for
its 5G NTN IoT network. Each satellite measures 20 x
10 x 35 centimetres, weighs 10 kg and has an
operational lifetime of five years. Alén Space was
responsible for their manufacturing, while Exolaunch
handled their integration with the launch vehicle.
The satellites operate as
telecommunications towers in space, extending the
coverage of mobile operators through wholesale
agreements so they can provide Internet of Things
services in areas beyond the reach of terrestrial
networks.
The five new satellites form
part of a single constellation of more than 500
satellites that will evolve through successive
technological generations, from massive IoT to
higher-capacity and mission-critical services,
including D2D capabilities.
According to Jaume Sanpera, CEO
and co-founder of Sateliot, “The Draconis mission is
a strong reflection of where the company stands
today. We have validated the technology and are now
increasing capacity and service regularity to scale
together with mobile operators. Our goal is to make
satellite connectivity a natural extension of their
networks wherever terrestrial coverage does not
reach and, using this same standards-based and
interoperable infrastructure, evolve towards
increasingly critical and resilient services. We are
building a European telecommunications
infrastructure based on our own technology, built on
the 3GPP standard and with a global ambition”.
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