In a notable achievement for Türkiye’s burgeoning space industry, Plan-S has successfully launched four Connecta IoT satellites aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Transporter 11 mission. These satellites, intended to provide commercial IoT connectivity services, signify the company’s transition from testing phases to full operational capacity.
Founded in July 2021 in Ankara, Plan-S is leading the way in Türkiye’s satellite and space technology sector. The deployment of these four satellites marks the initial stage of establishing the Connecta IoT Network constellation, which aims to revolutionise IoT connectivity on a global scale. Launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base, the Plan-S team received the first telemetry signals just minutes after deployment, initiating the commissioning process for these satellites.
Commercial services poised for launch
“The five test satellites we’ve launched were crucial for developing our satellite
subsystems and building our flight heritage. Since our first satellite launch in 2022,
we’ve gained invaluable experience,” said Sami Aslanhan, Chairman of Plan-S. “Now, with these four Connecta IoT satellites in orbit, we’re ready to offer our commercial services.” The company plans to scale its constellation rapidly, with over 200 satellites expected to be deployed in the near future. “We’ve secured most of our launch contracts for 2025, 2026, and 2027, and following these four satellites, we plan to launch four more in October, followed by additional launches of eight and then sixteen satellites.”
Tugay Güzel, CEO of Plan-S, highlighted the global significance of the Connecta IoT satellites, which are designed to offer low power consumption, cost-effective, and high-capacity connectivity for IoT devices worldwide. “Our goal is to address the data needs in areas where terrestrial networks are unserved, underserved or expensive to many use-cases thereby creating a more efficient IoT ecosystem.”
Expanding to Earth observation
In addition to the Connecta IoT satellites, Güzel revealed that Plan-S is also advancing its efforts in Earth Observation.
“We’re continuing to develop satellites that will not only facilitate IoT device communication but also provide Earth Observation services. In 2025, we plan to launch an Earth Observation satellite as part of our Observa team, which will significantly enhance our capabilities in this area.”
The Connecta IoT Network is set to address critical connectivity challenges across various sectors by enabling seamless communication between IoT devices and satellites. These satellites will provide continuous coverage for monitoring and data transmission for millions of devices, impacting industries such as energy, agriculture, logistics, finance, and transportation. Güzel described this development as a transformative step that will drive significant progress globally.
Shortly after the launch, the Plan-S team successfully received the first telemetry signals from the satellites, just as they had with the previous five test satellites. The commissioning process is now underway, heralding the beginning of a new era in commercial satellite IoT services.
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