Spanish 5G IoT satellite operator Sateliot has inaugurated in Barcelona the first European 5G satellite development centre for its new constellation.

As a preliminary step before entering the industrial phase, this centre should provide an economic, technological and talent boost to Catalonia and Spain, positioning it as a global benchmark hub for the new-space industry.

The facility marks the beginning of Sateliot’s industrial phase and reinforces Europe’s position in 5G IoT connectivity from space. It has also driven the creation of more than 50 highly skilled jobs, leading Sateliot to double its workforce in the past year.

Located at the company’s new headquarters in the heart of Barcelona, it is the first centre in Europe dedicated to the design, development and verification of 5G satellites under common standards for all mobile operators (3GPP).

A month ago, Sateliot demonstrated the world’s first direct 5G-IoT connection from space with standard IoT devices.

The centre, which includes a 100m² clean room, mission control room and laboratory, will be the site where the prototype of Sateliot’s new generation of satellites – named Tritó, in homage to the Montseny newt, an amphibian species endemic to Catalonia – is being designed. The name is a tribute to technology that is 100% made in Barcelona.

These satellites, measuring nearly four metres in length and weighing 150kg, represent a qualitative leap in capacity and performance thanks to the increased operational power of their payloads. They will not only provide connectivity for IoT devices but will also support mobile phones with data, voice and video services. In addition, they feature dual-use capability, enabling the deployment of critical applications in security, civil protection and defence.

Sateliot’s core group of shareholders – comprising the government of Spain (through Sepides and the Spanish Technological Transformation Society, SETT), Indra, Cellnex, Global Portfolio Investments, and Hyperion Fund – is aligned with the company’s management and growth plans.

Sateliot’s business plan aims to reach €1bn in revenue by 2030. The commercial phase will begin in 2026, targeting the first 500 clients and accelerating expansion through mobile operators that will integrate satellite roaming. The company has already launched six satellites into orbit – the latest four in August 2024 – and plans to launch another five in 2026.

“Today we inaugurate a new chapter in our company’s history,” said Sateliot (www.sateliot.com) CEO Jaume Sanpera. “A chapter in which Catalonia, Spain and Europe demonstrate their alignment to lead 5G connectivity from space with proprietary technology and global ambition. A chapter we face with a clear course marked by 3GPP standards, full integration with mobile operators, global coverage and services that work seamlessly whether in the port of Rotterdam, the Pyrenees or the middle of the Atlantic, and, most importantly, in real time.”

The inauguration was attended by Salvador Illa, president of the government of Catalonia; Javier López, vice president of the European Parliament; Carlos Prieto Gómez, Spanish government delegate in Catalonia; and Juan Carlos Cortés, director of the Spanish Space Agency (AEE), among other authorities.