MEO and Eutelsat partner to provide satellite connectivity in Portugal

Portuguese telecommunications operator MEO has entered into a partnership with Eutelsat to provide connectivity services via the OneWeb Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation. This agreement allows MEO to integrate satellite links with its existing fiber and 5G networks to create a multi-layered communication architecture.

The solution is designed for critical sectors requiring high operational continuity, such as energy, banking, defense, civil protection, and logistics. It serves as both a primary connection for remote areas and a redundant backup system that automatically activates if terrestrial fiber or mobile networks fail.

Eutelsat CEO Jean-François Fallacher noted that Portugal is a significant location for the company, with 15 OneWeb antennas already operating at the Alfouvar teleport in Sintra. Regarding the IRIS 2 project, a European space sovereignty initiative, Fallacher indicated that while the selection of gateway providers involves the European Commission and ESA, MEO and Thales have submitted applications to provide services from the Alfouvar and Santa Maria (Azores) teleports.