In a significant step toward delivering hybrid, sovereign, and resilient connectivity through satellite-enabled 5G technology, CNES has awarded €31 million in strategic funding to UNIVITY—formerly known as Constellation Technologies & Operations. The funding, part of a France 2030 call for projects operated by CNES, marks a major milestone in advancing space-based 5G “made in France” and supports UNIVITY’s broader industrial ambitions.
UNIVITY: a strategic project to build French space-based 5G excellence
As American and Chinese giants dominate the satellite connectivity race, a French startup is reshaping the landscape with a bold vision centered on innovation and industrial sovereignty. Selected under the France 2030 space program following a competitive bidding process, UNIVITY, in collaboration with TDF, will conduct a groundbreaking demonstration of satellite-based 5G connectivity.
This large-scale experiment will focus on real-world use cases to validate the effectiveness of a fully integrated 5G NTN solution, designed and built in France. The system will combine very low Earth orbit (VLEO) satellites with terrestrial infrastructure, enabling seamless connectivity between space and ground networks.
TDF will play a key role in the project’s operational delivery, overseeing the hosting, installation, operation, and maintenance of three gateway stations—two located in mainland France and one overseas. These gateways are designed to ensure smooth interoperability between the satellite system and terrestrial telecom networks, laying the foundation for France’s leadership in next-generation connectivity.
A decisive lever activated by France 2030
With €31 million in funding from CNES and additional industrial co-financing from UNIVITY, the contract amounts to a total of €44 million. It reflects a proactive commitment to technological sovereignty. As a true accelerator for the space industry, France 2030 supports the development of critical technologies for France’s economy and Europe’s technological independence. The selected project aims to validate this technology in real-world operational conditions.
“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. UNIVITY’s ‘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.
“We are proud to have the support of France 2030 for this project, which represents a true strategic milestone for us. This recognition validates both our expertise and our vision of converging terrestrial and space networks. Our entire team is fully committed to this challenge, ready to deliver with enthusiasm, ambition, and determination,” 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.
An ambitious 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.
Backed by CNES, this funding underscores the credibility of the project while validating the technological and business choices made by UNIVITY and TDF. It also acts as a powerful industrial accelerator.
…for hybrid, sovereign, and resilient connectivity
UNIVITY is not just another technological evolution, it is a strategic solution arriving at a historic moment in the telecom sector, marked by the convergence of terrestrial and space networks. As a future global provider of space-based internet services, the French company is developing a VLEO constellation leveraging 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.
A trajectory already in motion
This €44 million program consolidates UNIVITY’s ambitious trajectory. Less than six months after raising €9.3 million, the company successfully launched in June 2025 its first regenerative 5G mmWave payload for space telecommunications. It has also signed strategic agreements with TDF and with ESA. Next milestones include the launch of two prototype satellites in 2027, followed by the gradual deployment of the constellation between 2028 and 2030.
“Space is the new frontier for telecommunications,” concluded Charles Delfieux, President of UNIVITY.
