UNIVITY, a Paris-based developer of space-based connectivity infrastructure, raised €27 million in Series A funding to accelerate development of its Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) satellite platform and wholesale 5G Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) services. The round includes Blast, Expansion, and the Deeptech 2030 fund managed by Bpifrance under the France 2030 program, along with two family offices. The capital will support completion of the company’s uniShape demonstration program and position UNIVITY for commercial scale-up targeted for 2028.
The company is focusing on a wholesale model that enables telecom operators to integrate satellite connectivity directly into their existing 5G networks, rather than relying on vertically integrated satellite providers. UNIVITY’s architecture leverages VLEO satellites to reduce latency and improve link performance, while using licensed 5G spectrum from telecom operators to enable seamless interoperability with terrestrial networks. This approach aims to support direct-to-smartphone connectivity, broadband access, and connected vehicle applications without requiring new spectrum allocations.
A central milestone is the uniShape demonstrator, developed with support from CNES. The program will deploy two VLEO satellites to validate end-to-end high-throughput 5G NTN services, including direct-to-cell connectivity from ground infrastructure to standard mobile devices. The demonstrator is intended to establish interoperability between terrestrial and space networks and lay the groundwork for the planned uniSky commercial constellation.
- €27 million Series A led by Blast, Expansion, and Bpifrance (France 2030), plus family offices
- Focus on VLEO satellites to deliver lower latency and improved performance for 5G NTN services
- Uses telecom operators’ licensed 5G spectrum for native integration with existing mobile networks
- uniShape program to deploy two demonstration satellites validating direct-to-cell and broadband services
- Targets wholesale model enabling telecom operators to retain control over space-based services
- Commercial scale-up and uniSky constellation planned from 2028
“We are building the reference space infrastructure designed for telecom operators, covering the full range of connectivity needs — from ultra-high-speed broadband to direct-to-smartphone connectivity,” said Charles Delfieux, Founder and CEO of UNIVITY.
🌐 Analysis: While strategically aligned with the shift toward 5G NTN and hybrid terrestrial-space architectures, UNIVITY’s €27 million raise remains modest relative to the capital intensity required to deploy and operate a VLEO constellation. Building and scaling a global satellite network demands multi-billion-euro investments across spacecraft manufacturing, launch capacity, ground infrastructure, and ongoing operations. This places UNIVITY in stark contrast to well-capitalized efforts such as SpaceX’s Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper—supported by tens of billions in committed funding and, in Amazon’s case, launch capabilities tied to Blue Origin. The uniShape demonstrator will serve as an important early validation step, but significant additional capital and ecosystem partnerships will be necessary to translate the architecture into a competitive, large-scale commercial network.
