The Government authorises the injection of up to €10.5 million to boost the Startical satellite services initiative

The Council of Ministers have authorised the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility to inject, via ENAIRE, up to €10.5 million into the company Startical to support the development of the first phase of the technological demonstration of this public-private satellite innovation initiative.

It will enhance the safety, capacity, efficiency and sustainability of air transport, with the potential to extend services to other modes of transport

Startical, co-owned equally by ENAIRE and Indra, aims to develop technological and operational solutions to enhance the safety, capacity and efficiency of air traffic—and other modes of transport—by providing global satellite-based surveillance (ADS-B) and communication (VHF) services for voice and digital data, via a constellation of over 200 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites.

Its main mission is to ensure coverage in remote and oceanic regions—such as the Canary Islands’ oceanic airspace and the corridor to South America—where such coverage is currently not possible using ground-based infrastructure.

This new initiative will make it possible to supplement, or even eventually replace, certain ground-based systems in continental regions, with the potential to transform air navigation in a manner similar to the revolution brought about by GPS in the field of navigation.

This constellation will enhance the safety and efficiency of air traffic by optimising flight routes and reducing fuel consumption and pollutant emissions. This will have a positive impact on the industry's sustainability and improve the operational efficiency of airlines, air navigation service providers, and other modes of transport.

Development of Startical

One of the most significant milestones in the evolution of this initiative was the approval by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) of the use of the aeronautical frequency band (117.975 to 137 MHz) at the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23), held in December 2023.

On 15 March, Startical successfully launched its first satellite, IOD-1 (In-Orbit Demonstrator-1), through the launch integrator Exolaunch, as part of SpaceX’s Transporter-13 rideshare mission. The satellite is currently in the process of deploying all its components and radiating systems in its orbital configuration.

Having successfully completed the allocation of the frequency band and the launch of the first test satellite, the first phase of the initiative is now progressing. A second test satellite is scheduled for launch in July 2025 as part of the European ECHOES project. Additional activities will also be carried out to support the further allocation of funds aimed at demonstrating the feasibility of the satellite constellation before proceeding with its full-scale manufacturing and deployment in the second phase.

On 18 May 2021, the Council of Ministers authorised ENAIRE to buy a stake in the company Startical with an investment of €13.4 million, enabling the establishment of the company and the commencement of the development of the first phase of the project, the technological demonstration phase.