- This milestone establishes the first 100% Spanish private space mission, with national manufacturing, launch, operations, and commercialization. It represents an unprecedented demonstration of Spain’s commercial space industry’s capabilities.
Elche/Barcelona (Spain), February 17, 2026. PLD Space, an international space transportation company, and Sateliot, a leading 5G satellite telecommunications operator, have signed a commercial contract to launch their first two high-capacity 5G D2D (Direct-to-Device) satellites. The agreement includes the launch of two Tritó satellites, each weighing approximately 160 kilograms, and their subsequent deployment into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The flight will be carried out on a dedicated MIURA 5 mission and is scheduled for 2027.
This commercial contract establishes the first fully Spanish private space mission and highlights the strength of national capabilities by covering the entire value chain: manufacturing, launch, operations, and commercialization. It also underscores the dynamism of the Spanish space ecosystem, which is redefining access to and communications from space.
Sateliot’s choice of PLD Space is based on MIURA 5’s ability to provide an independent, dedicated service tailored to the client’s specific needs, ensuring optimal launch conditions for deploying its space infrastructure. Thanks to this value proposition, Sateliot gains a competitive advantage over other operators that must share launches with multiple customers.
MIURA 5 is the two-stage reusable orbital launcher for small satellites within the MIURA family, designed, manufactured, and operated by PLD Space. Its mission is to provide reliable, customized launch services, ensuring European technological sovereignty in space transportation.
Sateliot’s new-generation Tritó satellites represent a qualitative leap in capacity and performance for defense and security, thanks to the increased operational power of their payload. In addition to providing dual connectivity for IoT devices, they will enable D2D connectivity for mobile units, enabling access to data, voice, and video services based on the 5G standard. These capabilities will enable the deployment of critical applications in security, civil protection, and defense, maximizing network resilience.
“I founded PLD Space 14 years ago to make this happen. Our alliance with Sateliot is a key milestone for the Spanish and European space ecosystem. It demonstrates the ability of two national companies to break new ground and deliver unprecedented vertically integrated solutions. The level of competitiveness of this approach is unmatched in our sector,” said Raúl Verdú, co-founder and Chief Business Development Officer of PLD Space. “For PLD Space, the priority is ensuring that Sateliot’s satellites reach the required orbit at the required time.”
“With this agreement, we fulfill two core principles we have upheld since launching Sateliot: autonomy and national and European sovereignty. By launching our satellites with a Spanish company like ours, we are supporting the ‘Marca España’ and ensuring D2D connectivity worldwide and in any scenario, with enhanced capabilities for defense and security as well as civil use. This positions us as a strategic backup when terrestrial networks are unavailable or fail,” said Jaume Sanpera, co-founder and CEO of Sateliot.
