Real-Time LEO Connectivity Reshapes Satellite Data Delivery
Oct 22, 2025
The satellite industry is experiencing a major paradigm shift in the nature of the usage and monetization of ground infrastructure. Eutelsat has partnered with Skynopy, a French start-up that focuses on scalable ground station networks to provide Earth observation operators with an innovative solution. This collaboration uses infrastructure that is not fully utilized and develops cost-effective connectivity solutions, and it changes the way satellite operators can get access to the essential ground infrastructure. The partnership shifts the conventional ownership concept to being service-oriented and flexible at a time when the industry is facing unprecedented demands for real-time data connectivity.
Skynopy promo. Credit: Skynopy
Skynopy, which was established by former directors of Loft Orbital, realized one of the basic inefficiencies: large broadband constellations may frequently have idle antenna capacity at gateway locations. To capitalize on this idle time, the company came up with software and technical solutions that allow constellation operators to monetize unused capacity through a revenue-sharing model. With funding of $3.1 million in mid-2024, Skynopy will be able to develop its own technology and increase its number of partner ground stations. This solution addresses a long-term problem for satellite operators who in the past had to invest significant resources in their own ground infrastructure and technical capabilities.
The collaboration is geared towards reusing Ka-band antennas in 42 OneWeb ground stations globally, which significantly increases the original network of 30 S- and X-band antennas in 15 locations. Ka-band technology has the capacity to transmit data at extremely high speeds of up to five times faster than the conventional X-band systems, with a data transmission rate of 10 gigabits per second per pass. The existing Earth observation systems are dependent on fewer than 30 active X-band locations around the world, with a latency of at least 30 minutes, which prove inadequate for time-sensitive services. With the help of the ground network of OneWeb, Skynopy can keep Earth observation satellites in constant view of at least one of the stations, providing near real-time connectivity to satisfy the modern needs of operation.
Rapid satellite payload development producing enormous volumes of data due to hyperspectral imaging, radar systems, and video is driving the demand for higher-bandwidth Ka-band services. Defense operations and disaster response are critical operations requiring fresh and near-instant access to data, which cannot be achieved in traditional networks. The Akar project, which is the result of French government funding, is the first Ka-band ground station network specifically designed to deliver real-time connectivity for Earth observation. A beta testing program involving a small number of satellite operators is scheduled to commence within the coming months and run for approximately one year before possible large-scale deployment.
This alliance is indicative of broader industry restructuring within Eutelsat. The French operator announced plans to sell the majority of its teleport service operations to the Swedish EQT Partners, a private equity firm, forming the largest operator-neutral ground station-as-a-service firm in the world. The partnership with Skynopy is a case in point showing how legacy satellite operators are increasingly partnering with new startups in order to develop ecosystem efficiencies. With the industry converging on common infrastructure frameworks, the Eutelsat-Skynopy alliance exemplifies how older assets can be used to support the new demands of the market and create sustainable sources of revenue for all involved parties.
