- SES will use Elveo’s patented direct-to-device technology to enable mobile roaming for European users
- The companies plan to set up manufacturing and a supply chain in Europe for low Earth orbit D2D satellites
- The new satellites will work alongside SES’ geostationary and medium Earth orbit networks
SES and Elveo Mobile are planning to establish satellite manufacturing capabilities and a supply chain in Europe as part of an expanded collaboration on direct-to-device, or D2D, connectivity services.
The effort will support D2D services for European consumers, businesses, governments, institutional users and defense organizations, SES said Tuesday.
What Is Planned for the European D2D Network?
The companies will work on producing low Earth orbit, or LEO, D2D satellites using Elveo’s satellite bus, payload and software technology. The satellites will be part of a multi-orbit architecture that combines Elveo’s LEO D2D network with SES’ geostationary, or GEO, and medium Earth orbit, or MEO, networks. The effort builds on the SES-Elveo strategic collaboration announced in August, which established the broader relationship between the companies.
SES said the combined network will be capable of providing secure and reliable connectivity to European governments and institutions, including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. SES will also use Elveo’s D2D technology to support mobile roaming services for European customers. Elveo’s services use its high-priority 2 GHz S-band spectrum rights.
SES has also been expanding its MEO capabilities through its meoSphere constellation, a planned multi-mission network being developed with K2 Space.
How Will the Companies Reach European Customers?
SES will distribute Elveo’s D2D services through its global distribution footprint. The companies said Elveo’s current market access footprint covers more than 1 billion people.
Adel Al-Saleh, SES CEO and a 2026 Wash100 Award winner, said the collaboration will support resilient and secure multi-orbit connectivity for European users. Ramu Potarazu, CEO of Elveo, said the companies will work with European mobile operators and governments while establishing the manufacturing capabilities needed to support D2D services.
