The satellite industry is undergoing remarkable transformations, marked by significant advancements in technology and operational capabilities. Recent developments highlight the launch of two new satellites into the European Galileo constellation and the rapid growth of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions leveraging satellite connectivity. This article delves into these developments, showcasing the technical intricacies and industry trends shaping the future of satellite communications and navigation.

On December 17, 2025, the European Space Agency successfully launched two new satellites, SAT-33 and SAT-34, aboard an Ariane 6 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport. This launch is pivotal in expanding the Galileo constellation, which is crucial for global navigation satellite systems (GNSS). The new satellites will undergo extensive in-orbit testing before being integrated into the operational fleet.

Key Features of Galileo Second Generation (G2G)

The transition to Galileo’s Second Generation (G2G) satellites introduces groundbreaking capabilities, including:

Fully Digital Navigation Payloads: Enhancing signal integrity and reliability.
Electric Propulsion Systems: Allowing for efficient station-keeping and maneuverability.
Inter-satellite Links: Facilitating faster data transfer and improved service continuity.
Experimental Atomic Clocks: Offering unprecedented timing accuracy, critical for various applications such as emergency response and financial transactions.

Galileo aims to provide positioning accuracy of approximately one meter for standard services and down to 0.2 meters via its High Accuracy Service, significantly benefiting industries reliant on precision navigation.

Advancements in Satellite IoT Solutions

In conjunction with advancements in satellite navigation, the satellite IoT landscape is witnessing transformative changes. OQ Technology has recently achieved certification for Nordic Semiconductor’s low-power nRF9151 cellular IoT chipset, enabling seamless operation on OQ’s 3GPP-compliant non-terrestrial network (NTN).

Impact of IoT-over-Satellite Connectivity

This certification allows for end-to-end NB-IoT connections from the nRF9151 directly to a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite without requiring hardware redesign or software updates. Key implications include:

Broader Ecosystem Accessibility: Off-the-shelf IoT devices can integrate with satellite networks, lowering barriers for adoption in remote regions.
Cost-Effective Deployments: The ability to utilize existing cellular technology significantly reduces the integration costs for IoT solutions, facilitating widespread implementation.

As industries increasingly rely on IoT for data collection and analysis, these advancements in satellite connectivity are expected to accelerate the deployment of smart devices in various sectors, including agriculture, logistics, and environmental monitoring.

Electric Propulsion: A Game-Changer for Small Satellites

In a separate development, Pale Blue has signed a contract with Axelspace for an in-orbit demonstration (IOD) of the PBH-100 compact Hall thruster, scheduled for 2027. Designed for 50-200 kg class satellites, the PBH-100 aims to validate the use of compact electric propulsion systems in the challenging environment of LEO.

Advantages of Hall Thruster Technology

The PBH-100 thruster offers several operational benefits:

Instant Ignition: Facilitating rapid deployment and maneuverability.
Higher Delta-v: Providing greater efficiency in propellant use compared to traditional chemical propulsion systems, essential for constellation phasing and collision avoidance.
Enhanced Sustainability: Electric propulsion systems can reduce the environmental impact of satellite operations, particularly important as LEO becomes increasingly congested.

Continued Growth of Satellite Constellations

Meanwhile, SpaceX continues its aggressive deployment strategy for its Starlink constellation. A Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched 29 additional satellites in mid-December 2025, marking another step toward expanding global broadband coverage.

Trends in Large Satellite Constellations

The ongoing rollout of large constellations emphasizes:

Device-to-Device (D2D) Capabilities: Enhancing direct communication between devices via satellite networks, facilitating improved connectivity solutions for IoT applications.
Integration of Terrestrial Standards: The adoption of 3GPP NTN standards into satellite services is enabling more seamless connections between terrestrial and satellite networks, broadening the scope of potential applications from emergency services to autonomous vehicles.

Conclusion

The satellite industry is on the cusp of a technological renaissance, driven by innovations in navigation systems, IoT integration, and propulsion technologies. The recent launch of Galileo satellites, coupled with the advancements in satellite IoT solutions and electric propulsion systems, points toward a future where satellite technology plays an even more integral role in global connectivity and navigation. As the landscape continues to evolve, industry stakeholders must remain agile to adapt to the rapid changes that lie ahead, ensuring that the advantages of these technologies are fully realized across various sectors. The ongoing development and refinement of products like precision accelerometers and advanced MEMS sensors will undoubtedly play a critical role in shaping this dynamic field.

References

Galileo Gets a Boost: Two New Satellites Successfully Launched (defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu) - 12/17/2025 On 17 December 2025 at 06:01 CET (02:01 local time), two new Galileo satellites, designated SAT-33 and SAT-34, lifted off from Europe’s …
OQ Technology Believes Semiconductor IoT Breakthrough Will Open new Markets (www.satellitetoday.com) - 12/17/2025 *# Latest News

OQ Technology Believes Semiconductor IoT Breakthrough Will Open new Markets

**OQ Technology *has taken a technology step that it believes will rapidly expand its global addressable IoT device ecosystem for satellite connectivity. The company has certified Nordic Semiconductor’…

Pale Blue to Demo Hall Thruster with Axelspace in 2027 (news.satnews.com) - 12/17/2025 Under the agreement, effective December 16, 2025, Pale Blue will conduct an in-orbit demonstration (IOD) of its advanced “PBH-100” Hall thruster …
2025 in review: D2D rolls out (www.lightreading.com) - 12/17/2025
Starlink Launches New Satellite Service to Expand Global Internet … (olimpfruit.com) - 12/17/2025 As of December 2025, Starlink’s global coverage now exceeds 50%, with operations active in over 30 countries. The company continues to expand …
Space Brief 15 Dec 2025 (keeptrack.space) - 12/16/2025 SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches 29 Starlink Satellites from Florida · Falcon 9 Successfully Sends Starlink Satellites Up and Achieves Milestone Landing.

Galileo’s Launch: Enhancing Satellite Navigation