France's Univity and Indonesia's Telkomsat Sign MoU to Explore VLEO Satellite Connectivity

en.Wedoany.com Reported - French satellite startup Univity has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Telkomsat, the satellite subsidiary of Indonesian telecom operator Telkom Indonesia, to jointly evaluate satellite connectivity solutions based on Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO).

Under the MoU, Univity and Telkomsat will assess potential application scenarios for Univity's VLEO architecture and Direct-to-Device (D2D) services in satellite connectivity, covering enterprise connectivity, mobility, and connectivity solutions for underserved or unserved areas. The parties also plan to evaluate a hybrid multi-orbit architecture that combines Telkomsat's geostationary satellite network with Univity's cost-designed VLEO system, aiming to deliver secure, resilient, and customized solutions aligned with public sector priorities and national security needs.

Charles Delfieux, founder and CEO of Univity, stated that by signing the MoU with Telkomsat, both parties look forward to exploring how future satellite connectivity solutions can complement existing infrastructure over time and support new use cases. Anggoro K. Widiawan, Head of Development at Telkomsat, noted that satellite connectivity continues to play a vital role in supporting Indonesia's digital ecosystem, particularly in remote and geographically dispersed areas. He said that through this MoU, both parties aim to explore how emerging satellite architectures and future non-terrestrial network capabilities can help meet evolving national connectivity needs.

In December 2025, Telkomsat signed a similar MoU with UAE-based satellite company Space42 to collaborate on D2D satellite connectivity through the Equatys D2D joint venture, which was established by Space42 and Viasat in September 2025. Since May 2024, Telkomsat has also been reselling Starlink's satellite broadband services to Indonesian enterprises.

Founded in 2022 with support from the French government, Univity plans to build a shared neutral global constellation of 3,400 VLEO satellites. These satellites will operate at an altitude of approximately 375 kilometers above Earth, utilizing 5G spectrum from operator partners to provide wholesale 5G D2D services. Univity states that compared to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, the lower orbit supports higher speeds and lower latency, which is critical for achieving space-based 5G connectivity. For reference, Starlink's LEO satellites orbit at altitudes between 340 km and 570 km, while Amazon's LEO satellites orbit at altitudes between 590 km and 630 km. The first satellites are expected to launch in 2028.

Univity has secured €68 million (approximately $77.7 million) in Series A funding for its network, including €31 million from the French National Centre for Space Studies (CNES), in addition to €27 million raised in April. Univity currently has sufficient funding to launch its first two satellites and plans to begin large-scale deployment in 2028.