Thales to Provide SpaceGate Ground Solution to Eutelsat for Konnect VHTS 

Artistic render of Eutelsat Konnect VHTS, built by Thales Alenia Space. Photo: Thales Alenia Space

Thales Alenia Space will provide its SpaceGate ground connectivity solution to Eutelsat for the Konnect VHTS satellite. SpaceGate is a satellite access network solution designed to provide wideband connectivity to increase ground segment performance. It is composed of baseband equipment to be deployed in the Eutelsat ground stations as well as terminals for internet connectivity. 

Eutelsat CTO Pascal Homsy said this new line of ground segment products for Konnect VHTS in Europe will complement the ground infrastructures developed partner Hughes Network Systems. 

“Bridging the digital divide is a priority for the growth in France and in Europe, we are proud to contribute to this important target by offering a French/European network access solution which is also matching the sovereignty and connectivity key stakes,” commented Marc Henri Serre, EVP of Telecommunications at Thales Alenia Space. 

Eutelsat Konnect VHTS, built by Thales Alenia Space, is expected to launch with Arianespace on Sept. 6. The satellite is the largest Geostationary (GEO) satellite ever ordered in Europe and will support Eutelsat’s growth strategy in broadband connectivity with 500 Gbps of capacity over Europe.