Leaf Space Launches TreeNet to Bring “Always-On” Connectivity to Satellites

Leaf Space has launched TreeNet, a new communications platform designed to help satellites stay continuously connected in orbit, reducing reliance on traditional ground stations and enabling faster, more autonomous operations in space.

TreeNet will help transform how satellite networks operate by allowing groups of satellites to communicate directly with each other and share access to ground connections in real time.

Today, most satellites can only transmit data when passing over a ground station, creating delays and operational bottlenecks. TreeNet replaces this stop-start model with a shared orbital network, allowing satellites within the same cluster to remain connected even when individual spacecraft are temporarily out of contact with Earth. The system effectively creates an “internet for space”, where satellites can exchange data with one another instantly and route communications through whichever spacecraft currently has a live connection to the ground.

Leaf Space says this approach could improve the speed and reliability of services that depend on satellite infrastructure, including disaster response, Earth observation, logistics, communications and space traffic management.

Cristina Zanchi, CEO of Leaf Space, said: “The space industry is entering a phase where performance, speed, and flexibility define success. Connectivity is no longer just an operational necessity; it is the foundation of how space will scale. With TreeNet, we are turning connectivity from a bottleneck into an enabler, allowing operators to move faster, scale with confidence, and design missions without being constrained by access to the ground. This launch reinforces Leaf Space’s long-term commitment to building the infrastructure that allows space to truly function as a network.”

Giovanni Pandolfi Bortoletto, Chief Product Officer and Co-Founder, added: “We’ve spent years building the infrastructure that connects satellites back to Earth. TreeNet extends that concept into orbit itself, creating a network where connectivity is provided by the system rather than depending on individual satellite passes.”

Unlike many next-generation space systems, TreeNet is designed to work alongside existing satellite infrastructure rather than replace it. The platform integrates with Leaf Space’s existing global ground station network and can be added incrementally to current satellite operations. TreeNet is now available through an early access programme, with satellite operators including D-Orbit, and EnduroSat among the first participants.