en.Wedoany.com Reported - Italian ground segment operator Leaf Space launched a space connectivity service called TreeNet on May 27, a technology that treats each satellite as a node in an interconnected communication network, aiming to achieve more seamless space communications. The company also announced partnerships and a launch timeline to advance the project.
Leaf Space CEO Cristina Zanchi stated at the SmallSat Europe conference that this launch reinforces the company's long-term commitment to building infrastructure that enables space to function as a network, bridging the gap between orbital operations and ground infrastructure connectivity. To test the initial phase, named Alpha, the company announced partnerships with Italy's D-Orbit and Bulgaria's EnduroSat, which will launch four satellites equipped with TreeNet nodes in the first half of 2027.
Leaf Space Chief Product Officer and co-founder Giovanni Pandolfi Bortoletto explained to SpaceNews that the startup plans rapid industrial expansion during the commercial phase, targeting a production and deployment capacity of at least 100 nodes per year from the first year of operations. The full commercial phase is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2027.
Pandolfi Bortoletto added that D-Orbit and EnduroSat were selected for the early testing phase due to their high launch frequency and, as long-term partners, strong alignment on long-term use cases. D-Orbit stated at the TreeNet launch event at SmallSat Europe that early testing represents an opportunity to explore how in-orbit connectivity can simplify mission operations and enable data-driven use cases. EnduroSat emphasized that it can expand its "Mission as a Service" offering by introducing an always-on connectivity layer increasingly demanded by customers.
Founded in 2014 by Pandolfi Bortoletto and Jonata Puglia, Leaf Space initially focused on building launch capabilities before shifting to ground segment as a service. The company currently operates approximately 40 antennas across 20 sites, serving satellite operators and launch service providers. In 2023, it completed a €35 million (approximately $41 million) Series B funding round. Pandolfi Bortoletto concluded that TreeNet is the natural next chapter in Leaf Space's vision, as the company, after establishing ground infrastructure, is now extending this principle to orbit itself.
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