Tenerife to Build Major Satellite Teleport

Tenerife is set to build a major satellite communication hub, often called a "teleport." This facility will feature large satellite dishes designed to act as a crucial link for satellite communications. The project is a joint effort between the Tenerife government (Cabildo), its Technological and Renewable Energies Institute (ITER), and the tech company Arquimea, through its subsidiary CanaySat. This public-private partnership receives funding support from the European Union. In the future, the plan also includes launching a network of satellites that will operate from the Canary Islands. The island's excellent geographical location and its strong underwater internet connections are key to this project. CanarySat Teleport Services will manage the new infrastructure, which is expected to create around 100 direct jobs.

This satellite communication hub is a core part of CanarySat's wider global vision, and its development will happen in two stages. The first stage involves building the station itself, with construction starting next year and aiming to be operational by 2028. The second stage will focus on creating, launching, and selling services from its own network of broadband communication satellites. These satellites will provide secure, high-quality global services, using the ground and space infrastructure based in the Canary Islands.

The project also includes a Satellite and Satellite Network Control and Operations Center, developed by Arquimea. This center will feature satellite communication antennas and related services. It will not only manage CanarySat's own satellites but also control those belonging to other organizations. For example, it will oversee a future satellite network planned by the Tenerife Cabildo and the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IAC), designed to monitor and protect the Archipelago from space. Arquimea's satellite control center, along with a gateway (or teleport) that connects to Canalink (a neutral communications provider), will be located at ITER. This teleport is part of the broader CanarySat project by the Spanish tech firm Arquimea.

Rosa Dávila, President of the Cabildo, expressed her enthusiasm for the project. She stated, "This project will help us diversify our economy, attract new investors, and implement a strategy unlike anything seen before in the Canary Islands." She added that building the teleport and the satellite control center is a "decisive step to position Tenerife at the forefront of future communications."

Antonio Abad, CanarySat's General Director, emphasized that the project offers a "great opportunity to transform the Canary Islands into a central hub for secure, robust, and independent satellite communications, meeting a growing global need." Rubén Criado, General Director of New Technologies and CEO of Arquimea's research center, commented that it's "fundamental to our identity to be involved in Spain's leading technological projects and to continue expanding in the Canary Islands." He concluded by noting, "Our more than 20 years of experience in the aerospace sector enable us to contribute with expertise and foresight to significant initiatives like this."

Juan José Martínez, the island's Minister of Innovation, Research, and Development, explained that the CanarySat project is expected to create "around 100 new, highly skilled direct and indirect jobs." He also pointed out that it will "attract high-value companies looking for top-tier, real-time, and low-delay connectivity," including "satellite operators, telemedicine providers, banking institutions, and cybersecurity firms."

Several factors make Tenerife the ideal location for this project. Firstly, Arquimea already has a strong presence in the Canary Islands, particularly in Tenerife. Secondly, the island offers unique advantages, including favorable tax conditions, excellent physical connectivity, the D-ALiX data center, and robust underwater internet connections provided by Canalink. Additionally, private investors can utilize the Canary Islands Investment Reserve (RIC). These combined elements were crucial in choosing Tenerife as the site for this important infrastructure.