The idea is to provide telecom operators with a hybrid, supposedly resilient connectivity system that promises high-speed, low-latency internet to remote areas and during significant disasters.
The plan is that CTO will launch VLEO satellites that operate using telecom operators’ 5G millimetre wave (mmWave) spectrum, while TDF will bring its experience in managing terrestrial infrastructure.
The partnership is being billed as a way for telecom operators to expand coverage without incurring billions in costs for their satellite constellations.
Theoretically, this means faster, more reliable internet to places where network expansion has traditionally been a financial and logistical nightmare. In practice, one can only hope it fares better than the many space-based internet dreams that have come before it.
It will also provide competition for Elon [Roman Salute] Musk’s Starlink.
The CTO’s approach involves creating a neutral, shared space-based infrastructure rather than allowing every telecom operator to launch its own overpriced fleet of satellites.
This strategy stands in contrast to the proprietary constellations being peddled by the usual space-happy newcomers, offering a supposedly more cost-effective and collaborative way forward. Whether telecom operators will seize the opportunity to share infrastructure rather than greedily carve out their territories remains to be seen.
As part of this grand vision, CTO and TDF also aim to ensure that communication remains uninterrupted even when natural disasters destroy ground-based infrastructure.
By utilizing inter-satellite links, the network will continue to transmit data even when terrestrial relay antennas are unavailable. Of course, this sounds wonderful on paper, but history suggests that emergency connectivity solutions often take a backseat when profit margins come into play.
CTO CEO Charles Delfieux said: “Space-based internet access is the next frontier for telecom operators. This partnership with TDF marks a strategic milestone that aligns perfectly with our ambition to converge and integrate terrestrial and space networks. Together, we are introducing an innovative solution to telecom operators, enabling them to expand their coverage and ensure resilient connectivity in all circumstances.
TDF’s TowerCo Business Unit Co-Managing Director Roland Chedlivili said: “With this partnership, TDF is taking a significant step forward by integrating space-based innovations into its connectivity expertise. Alongside CTO, we are exploring the synergies between terrestrial and satellite networks to offer increasingly efficient solutions to our clients and support French innovation. This collaboration reflects a shared ambition: to transform the telecommunications landscape and pave the way for universal, high-performance, and accessible connectivity.”