European satellite connectivity startup Constellation Technologies & Operations and the European Space Agency will carry out joint Low Earth Orbit (LEO) trials to test 5G connectivity. The satellite is due to launch in next month.
The trial, named the “Early Test,” will assess how LEO-based 5G connectivity can integrate with terrestrial networks.
ESA will provide access to its ECSAT facility in Oxfordshire for the campaign, which aims to assess the technical feasibility of delivering 5G mmWave services from space.
CTO and ESA will conduct in-orbit testing of 5G non-terrestrial network (NTN) technologies and share technical infrastructure and resources to support the trial.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to support European capabilities in satellite connectivity and reduce reliance on U.S. and Chinese LEO systems.
CTO’s proposed service model is based on a shared infrastructure approach that would allow mobile operators to extend coverage in areas where terrestrial networks are limited or unavailable, including rural and emergency scenarios.
“This alliance with ESA reflects a shared ambition: to build competitive European sovereignty in space connectivity, powered by bold technology designed and developed in Europe,” said Charles Delfieux, CEO and founder of CTO. “We’re proving that it’s possible to compete on a global scale without compromise—giving telecom operators back control over their future in space. Space is the new frontier for telecoms.”
Laurent Jaffart, ESA’s Director of Connectivity and Secure Communications, echoed the strategic significance: “This agreement aligns with ESA’s strategy to support the rise of innovative European players and jointly build resilient connectivity infrastructures that serve our continent and beyond.”
The project enters a market that is seeing increased interest in direct-to-device and space-based mobile connectivity, with players such as AST SpaceMobile—backed by Vodafone—also pursuing commercial deployment of LEO-based mobile broadband.
CTO’s approach, however, focuses on a neutral-host model, aiming to support multiple operators rather than operating its own retail service.
For telecom operators, the project could offer a new model for satellite backhaul and hybrid network architecture using existing licensed spectrum.
