A strategic site for next-generation connectivity

In the Aube region of France, Orange’s Bercenay-en-Othe teleport is now home to the first European gateway for the Telesat Lightspeed constellation. Certified Tier 4 by the World Teleport Association, the nearly 37-hectare site has been part of Orange’s satellite operations for more than 48 years. Today, its 46 antennas are taking it into the New Space era, with the ambition of making Bercenay a major European hub for next-generation satellite infrastructure.

 

Photo d'antennes

 

Advanced technology for critical connectivity

The new Bercenay-en-Othe gateway uses six next-generation satellite dishes installed specifically for the project, together with four smaller antennas that connect dynamically with Lightspeed satellites as they pass overhead. The infrastructure is designed to provide fast, flexible, and highly secure connectivity for critical applications, including the needs of public authorities and connectivity in emergencies or areas with limited coverage.

 

225 satellites

The Telesat Lightspeed constellation will eventually comprise 225 low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites, providing extensive coverage with low latency.

 


Gestion cookies

Resilient, secure, and flexible connectivity

The gateway is connected to Telesat’s point of presence (PoP) in Paris by two 100 Gbps terrestrial routes. This architecture provides high levels of resilience and availability for business and critical applications. Traffic can also be routed through optical inter-satellite links, providing greater control over where data travels and supporting data sovereignty.

 

This partnership with Telesat brings our LiveSpace approach to life: combining the best of terrestrial and satellite networks to meet growing demand for secure, resilient connectivity.

Valérie Cussac
CEO Orange Wholesale International

 

Building our European and international presence

As satellite constellations expand worldwide, Orange wants to bring more partners to its teleport. Bercenay-en-Othe is evolving to accommodate these new technologies and support Orange’s ambition to make the site a major European hub for satellite connectivity.

 

Orange plays an essential role in connecting space with the world. We build robust, secure, and resilient infrastructure, connecting these gateways to major interconnection points for our customers.

Jean-Louis Le Roux
EVP Orange International Networks

 

 

 

65 years

of Orange expertise in satellite connectivity and gro

 

48 years

of satellite expertise at the Bercenay site

 

10 new

next-generation satellite dishes installed for the Telesat Lightspeed constellation

 

Satellite connectivity where terrestrial networks can’t reach

The new gateway at Bercenay-en-Othe also opens up new possibilities for digital inclusion. Satellite can provide fast, secure connectivity where terrestrial networks are unavailable or insufficient, from rural and remote areas to emergency situations.
The gateway provides the link between the Lightspeed satellite constellation and Orange’s terrestrial networks, helping provide reliable, fast access to the internet and essential digital services.

 

For emergencies or areas with limited coverage, satellite remains irreplaceable. Our infrastructure is evolving to meet the challenges of an increasingly connected world.

Jean-Louis Le Roux
EVP Orange International Networks

 

 

Key takeaways

  • Orange and Telesat have opened the first European Lightspeed gateway at Bercenay-en-Othe
  • The new infrastructure strengthens network resilience and performance for businesses and public authorities
  • Orange’s teleport is developing into a major European hub for next-generation satellite connectivity.

 


 

Glossary

 

Gateway

Ground-based infrastructure equipped with antennas and network systems that connects satellites to terrestrial internet networks. It sends and receives data between space and networks on the ground.

LEO satellite constellation

A group of smaller satellites operating in low Earth orbit (LEO), typically between 500 and 2,000 kilometers above Earth. Working together, they can provide fast, extensive internet coverage, including in hard-to-reach areas.

Teleport

A strategic site housing multiple satellite dishes. It provides a key interface between satellites in orbit and terrestrial networks, connecting them to the internet and digital services.

Satellite dish

A dish-shaped antenna used to receive or transmit radio signals between Earth and satellites in different orbits. Newer, more compact antennas are designed to handle the speed and volume of communications with LEO constellations.

Point of presence (PoP)

A network location where data received from satellites connects to the core internet network.

Tier 4

The highest level of international teleport certification awarded by the World Teleport Association, recognizing very high levels of resilience, security, and service availability.

Low latency

A very short delay between sending and receiving data. Low latency enables highly responsive services such as video conferencing and critical applications.

 

In the satellite industry, “gateway” commonly refers to ground-based infrastructure that connects satellites with terrestrial internet networks.

It supports the Telesat Lightspeed constellation in low Earth orbit (LEO), providing low-latency connectivity with speeds of up to 7.5 Gbps for an individual customer, which is higher than traditional geostationary satellite systems.

Six large, four-meter motorized satellite dishes track the Lightspeed satellites as they move rapidly across the sky, relaying signals between the satellites and the terrestrial network.
Four smaller, one-meter antennas, known as user terminals (UTs), are used to test connection quality from the perspective of an end customer. Together, the antennas support secure, resilient, low-latency connectivity.
 

The gateway is primarily designed for business customers, public authorities, and critical applications.

It provides greater control over where satellite data travels and where it enters terrestrial networks, for example, allowing data to arrive in France through trusted, certified infrastructure. This helps customers maintain greater control over security, confidentiality, and their dependence on external infrastructure.

Yes. Orange already works with several satellite operators. Its technology-agnostic approach allows the site to integrate different technologies to meet customer needs.