Eutelsat Quantum

The Eutelsat Quantum satellite marks a milestone in European space innovation; the first fully reconfigurable commercial telecommunications satellite ever built.

Jointly developed by the European Space Agency (ESA), Eutelsat, Airbus Defence and Space, and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), the mission represents the next evolutionary step in satellite communications. The United Kingdom played a major role, with support from the UK Space Agency, marking the first major telecommunications satellite built and tested in Britain.

Launched on 30 July 2021 aboard an Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou, French Guiana, Eutelsat Quantum brought to life the concept of a software-defined satellite; a spacecraft whose coverage, power, frequency, and signal routing can be remotely reprogrammed in orbit. Unlike traditional satellites, which are hardwired for specific missions years before launch, Eutelsat Quantum can adapt dynamically to changing user demands, market conditions, or geopolitical situations.

Through ESA’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) programme, the project is designed as a Partnership Project, blending public funding, private investment, and European industrial expertise. The result is not just a single satellite, but an entire technological platform that redefines flexibility and resilience in space.

Eutelsat Quantum offers several strategic benefits and impacts including rapid market adaptation, where operators can respond immediately to shifts in demand; enhanced security, where the satellite’s software control and encryption features make it suitable for governmental and defence users requiring secure communications; resilience and redundancy in emergency scenarios, such as natural disasters or conflicts; economic European competitiveness; and sustainability.

How Eutelsat Quantum contributes to the satellite communications market

Satellite missions have historically been built with fixed specifications. Once launched, parameters such as coverage area, frequency plan, and power allocation were locked in for the satellite’s entire lifetime, typically 15 years. This rigidity limited adaptability in fast-changing markets such as mobile connectivity, government communications, and disaster response.

The satellite communications market required something new: a satellite that could evolve throughout its lifetime, offering operators and customers the ability to adjust service coverage and capacity on demand.

The solution was to create Eutelsat Quantum, a satellite equipped with software-defined digital payloads and electronically steerable antennas. Together, these systems give operators the ability to reshape the satellite’s mission in near-real-time; a game-changer for global communications.
Eutelsat Quantum’s technology has already influenced Airbus’s next-generation OneSat platform, a fully reconfigurable, production-line satellite that has attracted multiple commercial orders.
ESA continues to advance this technology through related programmes, including High Throughput Optical Network (HydRON) and Sunrise, which aim to integrate optical and 5G connectivity into next-generation space networks.

Innovative technologies

The innovations behind Eutelsat Quantum are what make it a technological leap forward in space communications.

Software-defined payload

Quantum’s core is a fully digital, software-defined payload that allows operators to reconfigure its mission parameters from the ground.
Operators can:

• Adjust beam shapes and coverage footprints
• Modify frequency plans and bandwidth allocations
• Redirect power to different beams or regions
• Change signal routing and polarization settings

This flexibility means the satellite can shift coverage from one region to another almost instantly; for example, reallocating capacity to support disaster relief in one part of the world, then returning to commercial service elsewhere.

Electronically steerable antennas

Quantum features advanced phased-array antennas developed by Airbus in Spain. These antennas can generate multiple independent beams that are electronically steerable and reconfigurable, removing the need for mechanical movement. This makes beam pointing faster, more reliable, and far more flexible than traditional antenna systems.

Flexible ground control

Eutelsat Quantum’s ground segment allows operators to update and control the satellite’s configuration in near real-time, offering secure and dynamic management. This system essentially turns Eutelsat Quantum into a network router in orbit, capable of adapting to changing traffic patterns, coverage demands, and security needs.

Compact, efficient bus design

SSTL’s satellite platform is lightweight and all-electric, reducing launch costs while maintaining reliability. Its electric propulsion system handles both orbit raising and station-keeping, extending operational life while minimising fuel mass.