Rendering of a Constellation

French startup Constellation Technologies & Operations has raised 9.3 million euros ($10 million) to move forward on its plans for a satellite broadband constellation in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO). 

The company said in a news release it wants to build a satellite broadband constellation like Starlink and Project Kuiper, but put “telecom operators at the center of the value chain.” The company plans to deploy a constellation in VLEO using telecom 5G spectrum to allow telecom operators to offer broadband outside of terrestrial networks. 

This funding will support engineering studies of the first two complete satellites, which the company plans to launch by the end of 2026.

“We are thrilled to have secured this funding, which will allow us to continue developing our constellation and help telecom operators unlock the enormous potential of space-based connectivity,” commented CEO and founder Charles Delfieux. “Our mission is to bridge the digital divide and provide universal internet access, empowering telecom operators to serve customers even in the most remote areas.”

Constellation Technologies is based in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines and Toulouse, France.

Venture capital fund Expansion led the round and the French Tech Seed fund invested in the funding round. French Tech Seed is managed by Bpifrance on behalf of the French government, as part of the France 2030 national investment plan.