ESA Industry Space Days 2026 highlights satellite innovation and 5G/6G partnerships

During the Industry Space Days 2026 event at the European Space Agency (ESA) ESTEC facility in the Netherlands, several advancements in the European space sector were announced.

Surrey Satellite Technology Limited, based in the United Kingdom, received an ESA Excellence Award as a prime contractor. The company was recognized for delivering two HydroGNSS satellites for the Earth Observation Scout mission, successfully meeting a demanding schedule despite last-minute changes to launch services.

In a separate development, the Latvian Mobile Telephone (LMT) Group and space consultancy Novaspace signed a cooperation agreement to develop a 5G/6G satellite communications hub in Latvia. This initiative aims to link Latvia's national connectivity sector with the international satellite industry, building on the ESA 5G/6G Non-Terrestrial Network Hub model to enhance resilient infrastructure and next-generation telecommunications.