SWISSto12 and Astrum Mobile Announce Preliminary Design Review on NEASTAR-1 GEO Satellite

SWISSto12, one of the world’s fastest-growing aerospace companies and a leading manufacturer of advanced satellite systems and radio frequency products, together with Astrum Mobile, Asia Pacific’s only Satellite-to-Device (S2D) company, have announced a major milestone in the development of the NEASTAR-1 geostationary satellite: the successful completion of the Preliminary Design Review (PDR). This marks a key step forward following the program’s initial announcement earlier this year.

NEASTAR-1 is being developed on SWISSto12’s HummingSat platform, a new class of geostationary small satellites, up to five times more compact than traditional counterparts. Purpose-built for Astrum Mobile, NEASTAR-1 will deliver Satellite-to-Device broadcasting and datacasting services directly to standard mobile phones and handheld devices across the Asia-Pacific region.

Astrum Mobile’s S2D service will leverage 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) to deliver rich media, datacasting, IoT connectivity, mass notification, and emergency alert services throughout Asia Pacific. NEASTAR-1’s high-power L-band payload is engineered to withstand severe weather-related radio frequency fade, enabling Astrum Mobile to offer enhanced Service Level Assurances (SLA) and maintain uninterrupted service during natural disasters such as typhoons, floods, and earthquakes—all accessible via standard smartphones and smart devices.

Roughly the size of an industrial washing machine and weighing approximately 1,000 kilograms, HummingSat is significantly smaller and more cost-efficient than conventional geostationary satellites. Its compact form factor supports cost-effective production and ride-share launch opportunities. SWISSto12’s proprietary, space-qualified additive manufacturing technology and advanced RF systems further enhance payload performance, streamline production, and reduce both manufacturing time and cost.

“We’re pleased with the progress of our HummingSat spacecraft for Astrum Mobile’s NEASTAR-1 mission,” said Emile de Rijk, CEO and founder of SWISSto12. “Reaching PDR within just a few months highlights the strength of our standardized HummingSat product line, which delivers competitive performance and rapid turnaround. We’re proud to support Astrum Mobile with a compact, high-performance Satellite-to-Device platform designed to better connect and protect its end users.”