ESA Supports Skynopy’s Commercialization of Enhanced Edge Connectivity for Satellites

Skynopy offers a boosted space to ground data download capacity with edge computing technology supported by ESA. Credit: Safran Data Systems ground station

Skynopy, a Paris-based satellite connectivity provider, is proud to announce that it has won a European Space Agency (ESA) contract to accelerate the commercialization of an enhanced data download capability for satellite operators, fueled by edge computing, Skynopy’s technology.

The contract is part of the agency’s Programme for Userbase Enhancement (PUSH), which aims to support companies developing “groundbreaking space-related products and services.” Under this initiative, three beneficiaries among satellite operators will be selected to receive fully funded support for implementing advanced communication capabilities such as Variable Coding and Modulation (VCM) and Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM).

Modern satellites are equipped with radios that support dynamic modulation standards. While techniques like VCM and ACM have been widely adopted in telecommunications for decades, they remain underutilized in the Earth Observation sector due to the complexity of integration on the ground and the absence of a complete solution to manage adaptive connectivity across both onboard and ground systems. The result: wasted bandwidth, suboptimal performance, and higher-than-necessary operating costs.

Skynopy, with the help of ESA, is removing these barriers by eliminating the cost and complexity of integration. Satellite operators can now access a fully managed, end-to-end VCM/ACM control service, specifically tailored for Earth Observation missions, that enables up to 50% cost reduction in ground segment operations by doubling effective data download rates.

“PUSH 2025 attracted an impressive number of strong applications, but Skynopy’s proposal truly stood out. Their approach to removing barriers to the adoption of adaptive connectivity perfectly reflects the kind of bold, forward-looking innovation that PUSH was created to support,” comments Geraldine Naja, Director of Commercialisation, Industry and Competitiveness at the European Space Agency.

This ESA-supported initiative ensures that beneficiaries will be able to adopt these advanced features seamlessly, unlocking immediate mission value while setting the foundation for optimal, sustainable operations in the future.

This service has already been successfully validated in X-band with live missions, confirming its ability to maximize data return by intelligently adapting modulation and coding schemes in real time. Looking ahead, Skynopy is extending the service to Ka-band operations, supported by its own infrastructure under deployment for 2026, offering a future-proof solution for next-generation satellite missions.

“Today, most satellite operators are still using fixed modulation schemes and leaving bandwidth on the table. Skynopy is here to change that,” said Pierre Bertrand, CEO of Skynopy. “By removing the cost of integration, we make these advanced features accessible to all operators. Thanks to ESA PUSH 2025, we can help European missions unlock the full potential of their radios, delivering immediate benefits and paving the way toward more sustainable, cost-effective operations.”

The competition called “OrbitEdge: Boosting Satellite Communications with AI at the Edge” is now open on the ESA OSIP platform under the ESA PUSH 2025 campaign. Satellite operators across ESA Member States, Associate Members, and Canada are encouraged to apply early to secure this unique opportunity.