iWorld
Europe shoots for the stars with home-grown satellite internet
MUMBAI: Space, it seems, is the final frontier for European ambition. Constellation Technologies & Operations (CTO), a plucky French outfit with grand designs on satellite internet, has inked a memorandum of intent with the European Space Agency (ESA) to conduct orbital experiments that could shake up the cosmic connectivity game.
The partnership will see the duo test the world’s first regenerative 5G payload operating in the mmWave band from low Earth orbit, with a satellite launch pencilled in for June 2025. It’s a bold gambit to prove that Europe can play with the big boys—namely America’s SpaceX and China’s expanding constellation of internet satellites.
Whilst Elon Musk’s Starlink and Chinese competitors dominate the space internet market, CTO is championing what it calls a “made in Europe” alternative. The company’s pitch is seductive: a shared, neutral infrastructure that lets telecom operators beam high-speed, low-latency internet from space without breaking the bank on massive capital investments.
CTO CEO & founder Charles Delfieux isn’t mincing words about the venture’s ambitions. He stated: “This alliance with ESA reflects a shared ambition: to build a competitive European sovereignty in space connectivity, powered by bold technology designed and developed in Europe. We’re proving that it’s possible to compete on a global scale without compromise—giving telecom operators back control over their future in space. Space is the new frontier for telecoms!”
The technical wizardry involves using very low Earth orbit satellites to leverage telecom operators’ existing 5G mmWave spectrum, creating what the companies describe as a “hybrid connectivity ecosystem.” Rather than building entirely new networks, operators could complement their terrestrial infrastructure with space-based coverage—particularly handy for remote, rural, or crisis-hit areas where laying fibre is either impossible or prohibitively expensive.
ESA director of connectivity & secure communications Laurent Jaffart sees the collaboration as part of Europe’s broader push for “technological sovereignty.” He said: “This agreement aligns with ESA’s strategy to support the rise of innovative European players and jointly build resilient connectivity. The upcoming tests with CTO will pave the way for new hybrid use cases at the intersection of terrestrial and space networks.”
The upcoming tests, conducted jointly between CTO’s French-developed regenerative payload and ESA’s experimental facilities in Oxfordshire, represent what both parties hope will be a “major step forward” in the race for European space independence.
As satellite internet becomes increasingly crucial for everything from military communications to rural broadband, Europe finds itself uncomfortably dependent on foreign providers. CTO’s proposition—a competitively priced, operator-friendly alternative—could offer a lifeline for European telecoms companies looking to expand their reach without surrendering control to American or Chinese constellations.
Whether this ambitious European venture can actually deliver on its promises remains to be seen. But with ESA’s backing and a clear launch timeline, CTO is certainly putting its money where its mouth is. In the high-stakes game of space internet, Europe is finally ready to make its move.
Gaming
Formula 1 and Mumbai Falcons launch India’s first official F1 sim racing championship
Nationwide competition creates pathway from virtual racing to pro motorsport
MUMBAI: Formula 1 has teamed up with Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited to launch India’s first officially sanctioned F1 sim racing competition, marking a new step in the country’s growing motorsport ecosystem.
The championship, titled F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026, will offer a structured national platform for sim racers, with participants competing on the official F1 25 across multiple stages. The competition will begin with online qualifiers, followed by city-based simulator rounds, before culminating in a national final in Mumbai this November.
Open to players across PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox, registrations for the event will begin on 30 April via the Mumbai Falcons app. The format mirrors real-world racing, featuring official circuits, team liveries and competitive structures aligned with the global series.
Formula 1 driver Narain Karthikeyan said the initiative arrives at a time when interest in the sport is surging in India, adding that a structured sim racing platform could help identify and nurture the next generation of talent.
Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited managing director Ameet Gadhoke noted that the championship aligns with the team’s long-term goal of building a strong motorsport pipeline in the country and placing Indian talent on the global stage.
The launch also reflects broader momentum in esports, especially after its recognition under India’s Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. By bridging gaming and real-world racing, the initiative aims to offer aspiring drivers a credible entry point into professional motorsport.
With interest in Formula 1 steadily rising and conversations around its return to India gaining pace, the new championship could become a proving ground for future racing stars.
