CNES and UNIVITY collaborate on French space-based 5G

CNES has awarded €31 million in strategic funding to UNIVITY, formerly Constellation Technologies and Operations, as part of a France 2030 call for projects operated by CNES. This support marks a decisive step in the development of space-based 5G made in France.

While American and Chinese giants dominate the race for satellite connectivity, a French startup is changing the game with a bold vision rooted in innovation and industrial sovereignty. Selected under the France 2030 space program following a competitive bidding process, UNIVITY, together with open infrastructure operator TDF, will carry out a groundbreaking demonstration of satellite-based 5G connectivity. Through real-world use cases, this experiment will validate the relevance of a fully integrated 5G NTN, designed and built in France, combining very low Earth orbit (VLEO) satellites with terrestrial infrastructure.

TDF will play a central role in the project’s operational implementation, managing the hosting, installation, operation, and maintenance of three gateway stations — two in mainland France and one overseas. These gateways will be essential to ensure seamless interoperability between the satellite system and telecom operators’ terrestrial networks.

French and European technology independence

With €31 million in funding from CNES and additional industrial co-financing from UNIVITY, the contract totals €44 million. France 2030 supports the development of critical technologies that will enhance France’s economy and promote Europe’s technological independence. The selected project aims to validate this technology in real-world operational conditions.

As a future global provider of space-based internet services, UNIVITY is developing a VLEO constellation that leverages operators’ own 5G mmWave spectrum to deliver high-speed, low-latency connectivity – just as they do today with terrestrial networks. This breakthrough opens new possibilities for connecting rural, remote, and underserved regions without requiring massive infrastructure investments.

“Thanks to France 2030 funding, CNES is supporting UNIVITY in preparing, through the in-orbit demonstration ‘uniShape,’ a satellite-based 5G-NTN service designed to meet the needs of terrestrial operators. The UNIVITY ‘uniSky’ constellation aims to deliver a distinctive French solution for high-speed space-based 5G-NTN connectivity, serving both consumer and professional users, built on innovative concepts and breakthrough technologies,” said Caroline Laurent, Director of Orbital Systems and Applications, CNES.

“The support of France 2030 for this project validates both our expertise and our vision of converging terrestrial and space networks,” added Véronique Bonnet, Program Director at UNIVITY.

“This project is a key milestone for TDF, underscoring our ability to integrate the space dimension into our telecom infrastructure offering. By combining our field expertise, local presence, and technological know-how, we are actively contributing to the emergence of a hybrid, resilient, and sovereign connectivity model driven by French players,” emphasized Jean-Louis Mounier, Managing Director of TDF’s TowerCo Business Unit.

Groundbreaking VLEO 5G demonstrator

The France 2030 co-funded project, with 30% industrial contribution, will unfold through to 2028 in two phases:

• Phase 1 (July 2025 – April 2026): technical specification and use case studies.
• Phase 2 (April 2026 – February 2028): assembly, integration, testing, launch, and in-orbit operation of two VLEO 5G satellites communicating with gateways and ground terminals to demonstrate high-throughput, low-latency services.

The 44 million contract consolidates the ambitious trajectory UNIVITY has embarked on. Less than six months after raising €9.3 million, UNIVITY successfully launched its first regenerative 5G mmWave payload for space telecommunications in June 2025. It has also signed strategic agreements with TDF and with ESA. Looking ahead, future milestones include the launch of two prototype satellites in 2027, followed by the gradual deployment of the constellation between 2028 and 2030.