Eutelsat Konnect VHTS
| Company type | Satellite |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications |
| Founded | September 2022 |
| Founder | Eutelsat |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
| Products | High-speed broadband internet, aircraft connectivity, maritime communications, secure governmental links |
| Parent | Eutelsat |
Eutelsat Konnect VHTS
Eutelsat Konnect VHTS is a geostationary communications satellite managed by Eutelsat. It was launched in September 2022 and represents a Very High Throughput Satellite (VHTS) aimed at delivering high-speed broadband internet, connectivity for aircraft, maritime communications, and secure governmental links throughout Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Constructed by Thales Alenia Space using the all-electric Spacebus NEO platform, this satellite incorporates the most advanced on-board digital processor ever deployed in space. This technology allows for flexible allocation of resources and supports a total capacity of 500 Gbit/s operating within the Ka band.
Launch
The Konnect VHTS satellite was deployed on 7 September 2022 (UTC) via an Ariane 5 ECA launcher from the Guiana Space Centre located in Kourou, French Guiana. This mission, known as VA-258, successfully delivered the spacecraft into a geostationary transfer orbit. Following a series of electric propulsion maneuvers to raise its orbit, the satellite achieved its designated operational position at 2.7° East in geostationary orbit.
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Ariane 5 transferring Eutelsat Konnect VHTS to the launch pad -
Ariane 5 liftoff carrying Eutelsat Konnect VHTS
Status
Konnect VHTS commenced full commercial operations in October 2023. Initial rollout targeted consumer broadband services through collaborations with distributors across France, Italy, and Spain. Nevertheless, the residential market adoption faced challenges due to competition from LEO satellite networks such as Starlink and OneWeb, which merged with Eutelsat in 2023. Despite these competitive pressures, Eutelsat finalized a contract with Türksat in 2025 to provide in-flight connectivity by utilizing capacity on the Konnect VHTS satellite.
References
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