THD-Sat is a research and development project led by CNES initiated in 2011. Its aim is to deliver the technology building blocks required to manufacture satellite systems capable of offering Internet fast-broadband services at prices and connection speeds equivalent to fibre optic.

Key figures

• 3 lines of research and development
• 200 to 1,000 Mbps expected download speeds
• 20 to 50 Mbps expected upload speeds
• €70 million budget envelope

Key milestones

• 2018: First complete THD-Sat system finalized
• February 2014: Second budget envelope allocated
• December 2011: Start of THD-Sat project and first budget envelope

Project in brief

The THD-Sat satellite fast-broadband project is part of France’s plan to bring fast broadband to every household in the country, using satellites to complement fibre-optic networks in less-populated areas. Satellite fast broadband will deliver download data rates of 200 Mbps for private citizens (500 Mbps for professionals) and 20 to 50 Mbps upload. THD-Sat will establish a national industry base capable of developing fast-broadband Internet solutions for telecommunications operators.

THD-Sat officially kicked off in December 2011 with a first funding envelope of €40 million from the digital economy budget line of the government’s PIA future investment programme. A second envelope of €30 million was allocated to the project in February 2014. Most technology developments were completed in 2018 and the first THD-Sat system employing them was launched in 2020. The first complete THD-Sat system, comprising satellite and ground segment building blocks, was deployed before end 2022.

CNES’s role

THD-Sat is a research and development project led by CNES since 2011.

Contacts

THD-Sat Project Leader
Valérie Foix
E-mail: valerie.foix at cnes.fr

Head of Telecoms & Navigation
Jean-Philippe Taisant
E-mail: jean-philippe.taisant at cnes.fr