Paris-based UNIVITY, a SpaceTech startup, has been awarded €31 million in strategic funding as part of a France 2030 call for projects operated by CNES to develop 5G made in France and support UNIVITY’s satellite constellation.
Additionally, 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.
“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,” said Véronique Bonnet, Programme Director at UNIVITY.
Founded in 2022, UNIVITY (formerly Constellation Technologies & Operations) is developing a satellite constellation that enables telecom operators to provide high-speed, low-latency internet access from space, complementing terrestrial networks. Through Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) satellites and the innovative use of telecom operators’ 5G spectrum, the company claims to deliver a high-performance, affordable, and sustainable solution to meet the evolving needs of the global connectivity market.
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.
Selected under the France 2030 space program following a bidding process, UNIVITY – together with TDF – will carry out a demonstration of satellite-based 5G connectivity. Through real-world use cases, this experiment looks to validate the relevance of a fully integrated 5G NTN solution, designed and built in France, combining VLEO satellites with terrestrial infrastructure.
With €31 million in funding from CNES and additional industrial co-financing from UNIVITY , the contract amounts to a total of €44 million.
“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.
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.
“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,” emphasised Jean-Louis Mounier, Managing Director of TDF’s TowerCo Business Unit.
As a neutral and open infrastructure operator, TDF supports digital players in their strategic connectivity challenges across mainland France and overseas territories. TDF has been enabling telecom and media companies to connect territories and people for over fifty years through its 8,600 commercialised sites.
“Space is the new frontier for telecommunications,” concluded Charles Delfieux, President of UNIVITY.
Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2025/09/french-spacetech-startup-univity-secures-e31-million-to-accelerate-space-based-5g-made-in-france/
