Tenerife to Launch €18.2 Million Satellite Teleport to Boost Aerospace Hub
Tenerife is set to become a global aerospace hub by 2028 with the development of an 18.2 million euro satellite communications teleport designed to track space missions and bolster the island's growing technology sector.
Tenerife is set to become a key player in the global aerospace industry with the development of a new satellite communications teleport. This project, led by the island’s Council (Cabildo) through the Institute of Technology and Renewable Energy (ITER) and the firm CanarySat, will give the island the permanent ability to track and control space missions.
The project has a budget of 18.2 million euros and is scheduled for completion by November 2028. Funding is a joint effort: the European Union is providing nearly 12 million euros through its Connecting Europe Facility-Digital program, while ITER and CanarySat are each contributing approximately three million euros.
More than just a collection of satellite dishes, the facility will serve as a high-tech hub. It will include operations centers capable of managing satellites in low, medium, and geostationary orbits. By offering these services to third parties, the island will function as a multi-operator center. The facility is being built at the ITER complex, strategically placing it near the Teide supercomputer, the D-ALiX data center, and the Canalink submarine cable. This allows for a seamless flow of data, from receiving space signals to processing and distributing them.
This investment is a core part of the Tenerife Space Horizon roadmap, which aims to shift the island’s role from a consumer of technology to an active participant in the aerospace industry. With ITER holding a 45% stake in the operating company, CanarySat Teleport, the local government ensures it remains involved in the project’s management and commercial success.
This initiative strengthens an already thriving tech ecosystem in Tenerife. The Tenerife Science and Technology Park currently has a waiting list of 41 companies looking to set up operations on the island. With the local tech sector already supporting nearly 15,000 jobs and generating over 300 million euros annually, this new teleport is expected to further diversify the economy by attracting experts in cybersecurity, data engineering, and telecommunications. Ultimately, Tenerife aims to use its unique location to act as a digital and scientific bridge between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.