Apogeo Space, an Italian SME that says it is developing the first private national constellation of picosatellites for IoT telecommunications, has announced a strategic agreement with Telespazio Brasil to expand its picosatellite IoT services into the Latin American market.

This collaboration pairs Apogeo’s cutting-edge IoT picosatellite technology with the established experience of Telespazio, a leading satellite operator in Brazil since 1997. This constellation, says Apogeo, will be able to provide global satellite connectivity and real-time data transmission, even in remote areas not covered by terrestrial infrastructure.

Apogeo's technology is based on picosatellites weighing less than one kilogram. The first batch of nine satellites, launched in November 2023, was used for flight testing. In August 2024, a further launch of nine picosatellites was carried out. These are currently operational in orbit and supporting data transmission tests as part of proof-of-concept projects in various areas of the world, including Argentina, Algeria, Europe and other strategic markets. The constellation will be completed by 2027, with a total of 96 satellites planned.

Telespazio Brazil, a subsidiary of Telespazio – a joint venture between Leonardo (67%) and Thales (33%) – is one of the country's leading satellite telecommunications operators, providing advanced services to corporate and government customers.

The agreement, say the partners, is based on a shared vision: to offer alternative, efficient and scalable satellite connectivity solutions to support the digitalisation of underserved areas.

In this context, Apogeo Space says its services fit perfectly into Telespazio's strategy to expand its IoT telemetry portfolio, targeting key sectors such as public services, oil & gas, agriculture and security.