The Spanish technology Fossa System will launch into space this Tuesday, with the help of Space commercial connectivity IoT (internet of things). The launch can be seen live through this link
This is a first batch of nanosatellites – satellites that weigh around 6 kilograms each – with which it aims to provide low-speed connectivity to industrial assets located anywhere on the planet, Julián Fernández reported in an interview with EFE, CEO and co-founder of the company.
These nanosatellites will go into space at 7:49 p.m. (Spanish time) from the base of the Vandenberg Space Force in California. Iran on mission Falcon 9 of the Transporter-12.
If it couldn’t be launched today, tomorrow SpaceX It has a launch window at the same time, according to company sources.
Fossa System launches these three nanosatellites after another 17 picosatellites – weighing less than a kilogram each and the size of a mobile phone – that it put into orbit in recent years and with which it has carried out IoT connectivity demonstrations.
Starting in the middle of the year, they plan to market this service with these nanosatellites, according to the co-founder of the company, who has calculated that they have about 80 million potential customers around the world.
The 17 picosatellites that Fossa System launched into space had a useful life of 1 or 2 years. These tiny satellites have been used for testing with companies like Microsoft, which used two of them for agricultural applications.
The nanosatellites that Fossa System is now launching They have a longer useful life, 6 to 7 yearsand, as a novelty for the company, it will use them for commercial purposes.
Only with these three nanosatellites they can already offer connectivity for millions of devices and provide service to hundreds of companies that have assets in remote areas or that need coverage. Once it has the 80 in orbit, the service will offer it practically in real time, he said.
Fossa System’s headquarters are in Madrid, where 27 highly qualified employees work. Their idea is to increase the workforce to 50 or 60 people by the end of 2025.
In addition, the company plans to open its first branch in Lisbon on January 14 and from there begin its international expansion.
A business “very focused” on Latin America
Without revealing which country will be next, he has indicated that his business is “very focused” on Latin America.
The company assumes that the majority of its clients are located in areas where they do not have an optimal telecommunications infrastructure network. Thus they will start with Latin America and their idea is to open up to Asia, Africa and some areas of North America, he noted.
In 2024, the company has been financed thanks to a capital increase of 6.3 million, which was led by Indico Capital and Nabtesco Technology Ventures, with the participation of Newmind Venture and Sabadell Venture Capital.
Last year it had a turnover of 1 million eros, taking into account that they are still in the testing phase, and the idea is to multiply its turnover by 3 this year, when it will begin to monetize its activity.
Fossa is an aerospace company dedicated to IoT satellite connectivity for all types of industrial assets and defense networks in remote areas with no coverage.
Founded in July 2020, it is the only European satellite company that designs, develops, manufactures and manages satellite communication, it said.
In 2021, it obtained a license from the National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC) and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation to deploy a constellation of 80 satellites in low orbit with which to provide IoT connectivity service via satellite throughout the country. planet, he recalled. More than 80% do not have any coverage.