Satellite News

SpaceNews.com • Jason Rainbow

SWISSto12 closes €61M ($70M) Series C to scale small GEO satellite and multi-orbit payload production

Lausanne-based space startup SWISSto12 has closed a €61 million ($70 million) Series C round to expand production of its satellite platforms and payload technologies. The funding is aimed at scaling its small geostationary (GEO) manufacturing business and supporting growing commercial and government/sovereign demand for space communications infrastructure.

4 Sources

2026-07-16T00:04:43.512436-07:00

Associated Press

Amazon Leo targets South Africa rollout by 2027 via Herotel deal

12 Sources

2026-07-15T08:30:36.897441-07:00

Space Intel Report

Eutelsat FCC filing suggests its 440-satellite Airbus OneWeb order could add new capabilities

1 Source

2026-07-15T11:14:01.105739-07:00

Via Satellite

FCC considers allowing Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth-style unlicensed devices to connect directly with satellites for direct-to-device (D2D) s

1 Source

2026-07-15T13:46:08.686563-07:00

Satellite Programs & Technology News Timeline

SpaceNews.com

4 sources

SWISSto12 closes €61M ($70M) Series C to scale small GEO satellite and multi-orbit payload production Lausanne-based space startup SWISSto12 has closed a €61 million ($70 million) Series C round to expand production of its satellite platforms and payload technologies. The funding is aimed at scaling its small geostationary (GEO) manufacturing business and supporting growing commercial and government/sovereign demand for space communications infrastructure.

2026-07-16T00:04:43.512436-07:00

SWISSto12 closes €61M ($70M) Series C to scale small GEO satellite and multi-orbit payload production

SpaceNews.com

None source

Swissto12 raises $70 million to accelerate small GEO satellite production

2026-07-16T00:04:43.512436-07:00

Swissto12 raises $70 million t

Via Satellite

1 source

FCC considers allowing Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth-style unlicensed devices to connect directly with satellites for direct-to-device (D2D) s The FCC is evaluating whether to permit unlicensed wireless devices—such as Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth—to communicate directly with satellites via direct-to-device (D2D) service. The proposal would shift connectivity models by enabling satellite links from common consumer device classes without requiring licensed handset transceivers.

2026-07-15T13:46:08.686563-07:00

FCC considers allowing Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth-style unlicensed devices to connect directly with satellites for direct-to-device (D2D) s

Space Intel Report

1 source

Eutelsat FCC filing suggests its 440-satellite Airbus OneWeb order could add new capabilities Eutelsat’s FCC filing tied to its Airbus Defence and Space order for 440 OneWeb satellites indicates the batch may not be a straight continuation of the current 640-satellite fleet. The filing points to potential additional features—such as optical inter-satellite links—that are not present across today’s satellites.

2026-07-15T11:14:01.105739-07:00

Eutelsat FCC filing suggests its 440-satellite Airbus OneWeb order could add new capabilities

Space Intel Report

None source

Eutelsat plans 528-satellite LEO constellation in addition to 440 satellites on order from Airbus

2026-07-15T11:14:01.105739-07:00

Eutelsat's 440-satellite order

Associated Press

12 sources

❗️

Amazon Leo targets South Africa rollout by 2027 via Herotel deal Amazon’s low-Earth-orbit satellite internet venture, Amazon Leo, has agreed with South Africa’s Herotel to distribute connectivity to residential customers under a new broadband offering. The service is positioned for a 2027 launch in South Africa, underscoring intensifying competition with providers such as Starlink.

2026-07-15T08:30:36.897441-07:00

Amazon Leo targets South Africa rollout by 2027 via Herotel deal

European Spaceflight

5 sources

❗️

Europe tightens space-systems execution—from defense milsatcom schedules to direct-to-device ground infrastructure—while securin A set of Europe-focused moves highlights the region’s effort to counter SpaceX’s growing gravity in satellite networks. Germany’s defense space buildup is anchored on schedule adherence toward 2027, even as optical and NTN-related ground segments face launch delays, and ESA-backed security work targets verification gaps in scaling multi-orbit systems.

2026-07-15T06:48:28.888867-07:00

Europe tightens space-systems execution—from defense milsatcom schedules to direct-to-device ground infrastructure—while securin

Payload

2 sources

Loft Orbital buys additional satellite bus inventory to scale Apex offerings for higher-power payloads Loft Orbital said it is purchasing new satellite bus inventory to expand its Apex platform capability, positioning the company to serve larger, more power-hungry customer payloads. The move increases production flexibility for a bus family aimed at scaling spacecraft integration capacity.

2026-07-15T06:15:51.002237-07:00

Loft Orbital buys additional satellite bus inventory to scale Apex offerings for higher-power payloads

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