PLD Space to launch Sateliot’s first Trito 5G satellites

Our Bureau - : Feb 18, 2026 - : 2:23 pm

Spanish launcher developer PLD Space has signed a commercial agreement with satellite operator Sateliot to place the latter’s first two next-generation Trito satellites into low Earth orbit in 2027. The contract covers a dedicated launch aboard PLD Space’s MIURA 5...

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The contract covers a dedicated launch aboard PLD Space’s MIURA 5 rocket, with the two Trito spacecraft — each weighing about 160 kilograms — to be deployed on a single mission. The flight is scheduled for 2027 and will mark what the companies describe as the first fully private Spanish space mission covering manufacturing, launch and satellite operations.

Sateliot is developing a constellation designed to deliver 5G direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity from space. The Trito satellites represent the company’s higher-capacity platform, aimed at supporting data, voice and video links directly to standard mobile devices, in addition to Internet of Things (IoT) services.

The agreement gives Sateliot a dedicated launch rather than a shared rideshare slot, allowing it to define orbit parameters and deployment timing more precisely. For emerging operators building communications constellations, launch control can influence initial network performance and commissioning timelines.

MIURA 5 is PLD Space’s two-stage orbital launcher for small satellites. The vehicle is designed to be partially reusable and is being developed to provide independent European access to space for small and medium payloads. The 2027 mission will be among its early commercial flights.

Sateliot says the Trito satellites are intended to strengthen network resilience by providing connectivity where terrestrial infrastructure is unavailable or disrupted. Potential use cases include security operations, civil protection tasks and defence communications, alongside commercial IoT connectivity.

The satellites will be inserted into low Earth orbit, where they will form part of Sateliot’s planned 5G non-terrestrial network architecture. The company has been positioning its system as compatible with existing telecom standards, allowing mobile operators to extend coverage without requiring specialised user terminals.

For PLD Space, the contract represents a domestic commercial customer for MIURA 5 at a time when European governments and industry are placing greater emphasis on sovereign launch capability.

The launch is expected to take place from a European spaceport, with further mission details to be confirmed closer to flight.