French startup Skynopy is developing a connectivity service for low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite operators to address what it claims is a rapidly expanding need in the space industry.
To that end, the company raised $3.1 million just a few months after the company was created.
Skynopy’s technology will help LEO satellites to more efficiently find connectivity in a similar way in which smartphones find cellular signals through networks. Currently, satellite operators face complex challenges finding modulations and protocols when downloading content through satellites.
The technology proposed by the company would offer a simplified service for LEO satellites to connect the devices using Skynopy’s hybrid network of ground antennas.
The as-a-service approach would allow satellite operators to not worry about the technical details of connectivity or developing infrastructure for ground antennas
This initial funding will enable Skynopy to develop its turnkey connectivity service for LEO satellite operators, addressing the growing needs of the rapidly expanding space industry. This would involve the development of a universal connector capable of interfacing with existing ground station networks to scale faster than traditional methods.
The funding will help Skynopy accelerate commercial deployment of its connectivity service and help form partnerships with initial ground station networks.
“The ground segment, and specifically ground stations, is the third pillar of any space infrastructure, alongside the launch vehicle and the satellites,” said Pierre Bertrand, CEO of Skynopy. “Today, industrial players and public policies have tended to underestimate this essential pillar, which is crucial for data creation and retrieval, representing up to 20% of a mission’s cost. Skynopy aims to solve this deadlock and offer a true innovation in the business model.”
