The agency has signed a memorandum of intent with Constellation Technologies & Operations (CTO), a Paris-based specialist in space-based connectivity services. The organisations will conduct joint experiments in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) with a pathfinder satellite.<\/p>\n The tests will focus on the \u201cEarly Test\u201d, says the ESA \u2014 the first regenerative payload operating in the 5G mmWave band. It will be onboard a satellite scheduled for launch in June 2025. The work will also involve the European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT<\/a>), which is based in Harwell, Oxfordshire.<\/p>\n \u201cThis alliance with ESA reflects a shared ambition: to build a competitive European sovereignty in space connectivity, powered by bold technology designed and developed in Europe,\u201d said Charles Delfieux<\/a>, CEO and founder of CTO. \u201cWe\u2019re proving that it\u2019s possible to compete on a global scale without compromise\u2014giving telecom operators back control over their future in space. Space is the new frontier for telecoms!\u201d<\/p>\n For its part, the ESA highlighted the importance of resilient connectivity for Europe. Laurent Jaffart, Director of Connectivity and Secure Communications at ESA commented:<\/p>\n \u201cThis agreement aligns with ESA\u2019s strategy to support the rise of innovative European players and jointly build resilient connectivity. The upcoming tests with CTO will pave the way for new hybrid use cases at the intersection of terrestrial and space networks.\u201d<\/p>\n The satellite is designed to be the technological pathfinder of CTO\u2019s future constellation. And the hope is it will validate the interoperability of space and terrestrial networks. This in turn should enable more cost-effective, and sustainable hybrid connectivity.<\/p>\n ESA describes itself as a \u201ckey supporter of the development of 3GPP-compliant Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN)\u201d. It means it sees this latest initiative as a driver for European autonomy.<\/p>\n \u201cThe combination of a regenerative payload developed in France and ESA\u2019s experimental capabilities at ECSAT (Oxfordshire, UK) marks a major step forward in the race for European technological sovereignty,\u201d states the agency.<\/p>\n Pictured above are Charles Delfieux (CEO, CTO), Antonio Franchi (Head of 5G\/6G NTN Programme Office, ESA), Patrice Sidot (Head of Commercial Partnerships, CTO). They are outside the ESA HQ in Paris.<\/p>\n Image: ESA \/ Constellation Technologies & Operations<\/em><\/p>\n See also<\/em>: European Space Agency looks ahead with ESA Strategy 2040<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"ESA,](\"https:\/\/static.electronicsweekly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/27112447\/CTO-and-ESA-in-Paris.webp\" "\\"ESA,")
<\/a><\/p>\nCTO<\/h2>\n
Pathfinder<\/h2>\n
Paris<\/h2>\n