In a significant development in the field of satellite communications, Hellas Sat has joined forces with Thales Alenia Space, a collaboration between Thales and Leonardo, under a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding. This agreement marks the beginning of their joint venture on a pioneering optical communication satellite project.
This collaborative effort is set to culminate in the creation of an advanced optical communication payload, designed specifically for the forthcoming Hellas Sat 5 telecommunications satellite. This satellite is expected to operate in a geostationary orbit positioned at 39 degrees East.
The primary objective of this ambitious project is to deliver state-of-the-art communication services from geostationary orbit, boasting exceptionally high data transfer rates. A key feature of this payload is its ability to establish connections with several optical ground stations, including the National Athens Observatory in Greece, various stations in France, as well as those operated by the European Space Agency (ESA) and Thales Alenia Space’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) HydRON telecommunication satellite.
As part of the Vertigo H2020 program, Thales Alenia Space has been actively engaged in enhancing very high data rate capacities, potentially reaching up to 1 terabit per second. This endeavor involves overcoming the challenges of long-distance communication from ground to geostationary orbit and dealing with cross-atmospheric turbulence, in collaboration with France Relance, CNES, and ESA.
The official MoU signing event was held at Hellas Sat’s headquarters in Athens, Greece. This event witnessed the participation of notable figures from the Prime Minister’s Office, the French embassy in Greece, ESA, CNES, Thales Alenia Space from France, Italy, and Switzerland, the National Athens Observatory, various Greek ministries, and local authorities.
Christodoulos Protopapas, CEO of Hellas Sat, expressed his honor in renewing their collaboration with Thales Alenia Space, emphasizing the venture’s role in introducing groundbreaking optical connectivity services to both European and international markets. Marc-Henri Serre, Executive Vice President of Telecommunications at Thales Alenia Space, shared his enthusiasm for this partnership, highlighting its significance in establishing a secure, high-rate optical network and marking a sustainable approach in telecommunications.
This announcement comes at a time when the satellite communications sector is witnessing a surge in interest and investment, with numerous partnerships forming and substantial capital being invested in satellite deployment. This trend is expected to be a major highlight at the upcoming Mobile World Congress (MWC).
