Space to Connect
The satellite communications market is in constant flux, with manufacturers developing made-to-measure solutions to keep pace with operators’ new needs. End-users’ expectations are well known: anywhere, anytime connectivity—including on the move—and access to increasing amounts of data. There remains the unresolved problem of “not spots”, underserved and often remote areas without sufficient communications infrastructure on the ground, where fiber most likely has yet to reach. Bridging the digital divide is still a key social issue, including in Europe. Telecommunications, and digital communications systems in particular, are clearly the best solution to match demand in a fiercely competitive and fast-moving market.
Made-to-measure solutions for operators
Thales Alenia Space offers a wide range of solutions tailored to the different expectations of the telecommunications market, for both civil and defense applications. The company offers three product lines for geostationary orbit: Spacebus B2, particularly suited to regional operators; Spacebus NEO, a powerful electrical satellite solution that provides very high-speed Internet; and Space INSPIRE, a fully digitalized satellite that can be reconfigured in orbit.
These three solutions provide concrete answers to operators on a case-by-case basis, serving connectivity, mobility, and the reduction of the digital divide. To ensure the complementarity of needs for medium and low Earth orbits, the company is also a world leader and the partner of choice for operational constellations, with three constellations to its credit.
A major player in the telecommunications market
In 2024, Thales Alenia Space was awarded a contract by Japanese operator SKY Perfect JSAT to build JSAT-31, a new generation of software-defined satellite based on our Space INSPIRE solution. JSAT-31 High Throughput Satellite will offer high-speed broadband services over Japan, South-East Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Pacific islands. In 2025, Thales Alenia Space was awarded contracts to manufacture 2 civil geostationary telecommunications satellites: THOR 8 for Space Norway and JSAT-32 for Japanese operator SKY Perfect JSAT.
The THOR 8 communications satellite will provide broadcasting services from the Nordic countries to Central and Eastern Europe while also offering first-class satellite connectivity to broadcasters and high-speed internet access to fixed and mobile infrastructure (maritime, terrestrial and aeronautical services) in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. JSAT-32 will cover Japan and its surrounding seas, with new spot beams for mobility applications. It will serve as a future replacement for existing SKY Perfect JSAT satellites that provide communication and distribution services in Japan. Together with Hispasat, we also announced the start of the development of the QKD-GEO prototype, Spain’s quantum key distribution system from geostationary orbit.
Connectivity for all
Operating alongside terrestrial infrastructure, satellite communication systems deliver a whole host of services — TV and radio broadcasting, fast broadband internet and more — to bring digital connectivity to all. Our company is for instance the industrial prime contractor for EUTELSAT KONNECT VHTS, the most powerful satellite ever built in Europe. Successfully launched in 2022, it provides very-high-throughput internet across Europe, including remote regions with patchy coverage, offering service on a par with terrestrial fiber networks.
We also built the SATRIA satellite, which is helping bridge the gap in Indonesia. This very-high-throughput communications satellite connects thousands of schools, hospitals, public buildings, and government facilities, which were not already served by any terrestrial systems. Another key example isthe Spacebus NEO-based Amazonas Nexus satellite. This impressive satellite is covering the whole American continent, the North Atlantic corridor (zone of air and sea traffic) and even Greenland.
3 telecom constellations as prime contractor
Thales Alenia Space has always been a go-to partner for constellations. After helping to build nearly 70% of the first Globalstar constellation, we were the prime contractor for three other constellations of communications satellites in medium and low Earth orbit, with Globalstar 2, O3b and Iridium® NEXT.
The multi-layer approach
Telecom satellites are crucial for connectivity and sovereignty. Operators appear to be adopting a multi-orbit model combining the advantages of GEO, MEO and LEO, and the multi-use concept also has established itself in the constellation arena. The flexibility to reconfigure satellites in orbit is now a priority for the world’s leading operators. And besides commercial requirements already identified, governments are starting to incorporate these solutions in their plans, as shown by the European Union’s flagship IRIS2 constellation project.
With three constellations already to its credit, Thales Alenia Space is among the world leaders in operational constellations, serving requirements in both medium and low Earth orbit.
