Paris. 16 September 2024. Skynopy, a French space start-up specializing in satellite connectivity, is collaborating with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to expand Skynopy’s current global network of ground stations with 12 additional stations and improve satellite data acquisition. By making satellite communication effortless and intuitive, Skynopy seeks to revolutionize the way data is obtained. This collaboration will allow Skynopy to expand its network of ground stations and, more broadly, further streamline the complex communication processes between Earth and space. A member of the AWS Partner Network (APN), Skynopy has built its platform using AWS Ground Station and other AWS services according to best practices in the AWS Well-Architected Framework.
Satellites are used for a wide variety of use cases, including weather forecasting, surface imaging, and communications. Ground stations form the core of global satellite networks. Satellite connectivity—which is essential for controlling satellites and transmitting generated data back to Earth—remains a major bottleneck in the market. It impacts the speed of space program deployments and their performance in terms of data volume, speed, and latency. Using AWS helps Skynopy continue developing its turnkey connectivity service for low Earth orbit satellite operators in response to the growing demands of a rapidly expanding space industry.
The collaboration between Skynopy and AWS provides satellite operators a streamlined, seamless solution that significantly reduces the technical and commercial complexities of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications. The service developed by Skynopy using AWS Ground Station infrastructure embodies this vision. In just a few months, Skynopy successfully established communications with commercial satellites in orbit, including those of Endurosat.
Skynopy x AWS: A Collaboration for the Future of Space
AWS Ground Station is a fully managed service that lets customers command and control satellite communications, downlink and process satellite data, and scale their operations without having to worry about building or managing ground station infrastructure. With AWS Ground Station, you have direct access to AWS services and the AWS Global Infrastructure, including a low-latency global fiber network. Customers can configure their contacts with the AWS Ground Station console and deliver data in the following AWS regions: US West (Oregon), US East (Ohio, N. Virginia), Middle East (Bahrain), Europe (Stockholm, Ireland, Frankfurt), Asia Pacific (Dubbo, Seoul, Singapore), Africa (Cape Town), and South America (São Paulo).
“This is a pivotal milestone for Skynopy. This collaboration enhances Skynopy’s offerings by allowing operators to fully leverage AWS’s global infrastructure and services for their satellite receive-communication needs. By taking advantage of our ‘as a service’ approach, customers can focus entirely on their missions without worrying about the technical details of connectivity or the costly investment in ground antenna infrastructure,” concluded Pierre Bertrand, co-founder of Skynopy.
Earlier this year, Skynopy raised €3.1 million in funding to bring connectivity simplicity to the world of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. The company aims to transform the often complex and costly process of satellite communication into a streamlined, user-friendly experience. Leveraging this hybrid network of ground antennas, universal connectors, and innovative software solutions, Skynopy offers a turnkey connectivity service that makes it easier and faster for satellite operators to send commands and receive data. This approach not only reduces the capital expenditure required for traditional ground infrastructure, but also positions Skynopy as a leading player in the rapidly expanding space industry, with early clients including HEMERIA and CNES.
