MILAN – Italian ground segment operator Leaf Space unveiled a new space connectivity service May 27. The technology, named TreeNet, aims to make space communications more seamless by treating individual satellites as nodes in an interconnected communications network. The company also announced partnerships and launch timelines to bring the project to fruition.
“This launch reinforces Leaf Space’s long-term commitment to building the infrastructure that allows space to function as a network bridging the gap between orbital operations and the connectivity of Earth-based infrastructure,” Cristina Zanchi, CEO of Leaf Space, said during SmallSat Europe.To test the initial phase, named Alpha, the company also announced partnerships with D-Orbit, based in Italy, and EnduroSat, based in Bulgaria, which will launch four satellites provided with TreeNet nodes in the first half of 2027.
Giovanni Pandolfi Bortoletto, Leaf Space chief product officer and co-founder, explained to SpaceNews that the startup is planning for a “rapid industrial ramp in the commercial phase, with a target production and deployment capability of at least 100 nodes per year from the first year of operations,”.
The full commercial phase is planned by the end of 2027.
D-Orbit and EnduroSat, Pandolfi Bortoletto added, were chosen for the early testing phase because of their high launch cadence. Beyond launch capacity, “they are long-standing partners with whom we have a strong alignment on longer-term use cases.”
D-Orbit sees the early testing as an opportunity to explore how in-orbit connectivity can simplify mission operations and enable data-driven use cases, the company said during the TreeNet launch at SmallSat Europe.
EnduroSat, meanwhile, emphasized the potential to expand its mission-as-a-service offering by introducing an always-on connectivity layer that is increasingly in demand from customers.
Founded in 2014 by Pandolfi Bortoletto and Jonata Puglia, Leaf Space initially set out to build launch capabilities before moving to Ground Segment-as-a-Service. It currently has around 40 antennas across 20 sites and serves customers among satellite operators and launch providers. In 2023, it completed a 35 million euro ($41 million) Series B round.
“TreeNet is the natural next chapter in Leaf Space’s vision,” Pandolfi Bortoletto concluded. “We built the ground infrastructure. Now we are extending that principle into orbit itself.”
