Photo: 4iG

Hungarian telecommunications company 4iG plans to launch Earth observation satellites and a telecommunication satellite in the HUSAT program. In a Nov. 20 announcement, 4iG called HUSAT the “largest privately funded satellite program in Hungary and the Central and Eastern European region.” 

The company plans for one telecommunications satellite in Geostationary Orbit (GEO) called HUGEO, and an eight-satellite EO constellation. The EO constellation, HULEO, will comprise six electro-optical satellites and two synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites. The constellation will provide EO data, data processing, and telecommunications. 

The EO satellites will be built by subsidiary 4iG Space and Defense Technologies at the company’s manufacturing facility being built in Martonvásár, Hungary, and set to be completed by 2026. The GEO satellite will be built with an international partner. 

4iG said the GEO satellite and the first electro-optical satellites will enter service by the end of 2028.

In February, 4iG organized its aerospace and tech portfolio, including Spacecom, into the 4iG Space and Defense Technologies subsidiary, with the goal to develop satellites and UAV technologies and become a leader in space tech in Central and Eastern Europe.