ARQUIMEA has appointed Antonio Abad as the new CEO of CanarySat Satellite Services, the Group’s subsidiary responsible for executing the LEO constellation program aimed at accelerating a new growth phase in secure satellite communications for bandwidth and low latency. With over 30 years of experience in the aerospace industry, Abad will lead the launch of the new operator based in Tenerife and oversee its Main constellation program, with its first milestone being to put two satellites into orbit in 2027 for a proof of concept with key clients.
“It is an honor to take on the leadership of a project with such a transformative potential,” said Abad during his presentation. “LEO satellite constellations represent the future of space, and my goal is to bring the entire experience and knowledge accumulated over more than three decades in the sector to this mission.”
A technical and strategic profile for a decisive phase
The new CEO of CanarySat is one of the most recognized figures among satellite communications operators. For decades, he served as Technical Director at Hispasat, participating in the launch of eleven GEO satellites and leading high-impact projects for Spain and Europe. Among these are the world’s first quantum key distribution mission in geostationary orbit (GEO-QKD), Hispasat’s participation in the SpaceRise consortium to develop the European IRIS2 constellation, and efforts for the first European lunar communications operator as part of the Moonlight program.
His professional recognition is also reflected on the institutional level: Member of the International Academy of Astronautics, the Académie de l’Air et de l’Espace, Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Additionally, he is a regular collaborator with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Spanish Space Agency (AEE).
This background, which combines strategic vision, complex program management, and technical expertise, will be key for a phase that ARQUIMEA describes as “decisive”: expanding investments and launching the infrastructure and equipment that will design, build, and operate the future constellation.
CanarySat: global, secure, low-latency connectivity from LEO
CanarySat will lead the LEO (Low Earth Orbit) Ka-band constellation driven by ARQUIMEA with a clear purpose: to provide global, secure connectivity for businesses and government agencies, with a latency significantly lower than traditional GEO systems. The LEO approach permits covering extensive areas and remote zones with near real-time response, a fundamental feature for critical services, industrial environments, mobility, or public infrastructure.
The roadmap includes two initial satellites in 2027 to serve as a test bed for the service with strategic clients. This pilot will allow validating architecture, optimizing payloads and protocols, and fine-tuning operations before wider deployment. From his position leading CanarySat, Abad will coordinate a multidisciplinary team of engineers, technicians, and managers to transform the company into a leading operator.
An operator with industrial ambition and a focus on security
ARQUIMEA frames the project within its strategy to strengthen Spain and Europe’s position in advanced satellite operations. With 20 years of experience and collaborations with NASA, JAXA, and ESA, the company has established itself as a comprehensive provider capable of developing and manufacturing complete satellites, thermal systems, structures and mechanisms, avionics, microelectronics, and optical instrumentation.
This industrial expertise, combined with a focus on security and technological sovereignty, positions CanarySat uniquely to offer public and private clients a connectivity that is resilient, audited, and managed within a European framework.
Tenerife as a base: talent, testing, and operations
The headquarters in Tenerife is not symbolic; the island is an ideal hub due to its talent attraction capabilities, academic and technological environment, and optimal conditions for ground station operations and system testing. From there, the constellation development, launch planning, payload configuration, and network and client integration will be coordinated.
2027: The year of validation
The 2027 milestone, with the launch of two proof-of-concept satellites, will be the moment of truth. With this first pair in orbit, CanarySat will be able to demonstrate performance, latency, end-to-end security, and service continuity in real-world scenarios. Following this validation, the company aims to accelerate deployment and expand the constellation’s reach.
To support this, ongoing investment expansion will be critical to secure component purchases, launch reservations, and industry capacity. The choice of Ka-band also offers high bandwidth and service segmentation, benefits for vertical markets with sustained throughput and enhanced security.
A message to the market: scale, reliability, and sovereignty
With this appointment, ARQUIMEA sends a dual message to the market. On one side, scale and reliability: the leadership of CanarySat is entrusted to a profile that has led eleven GEO satellites and pioneering projects like GEO-QKD, with a keen focus on innovation as well as compliance and sustained operation. On the other, sovereignty and a European focus: a local Spain-based operator, with a consolidated value chain and aligned with EU priorities in secure connectivity, resilience, and data economy.
Next steps: from engineering to operations
In the coming months, the CanarySat team led by Abad will prioritize:
- Implementing infrastructure and ground stations.
- Finalizing payload design and user segment.
- Integration testing and component qualification.
- Industrial and commercial partnerships to accelerate sector adoption.
- Service plan for pilot clients in 2027, including SLA metrics, latency, and security.
If the plan proceeds as expected, CanarySat’s Ka-band LEO constellation will become a technological lever for businesses and governments seeking global connectivity and security guarantees, with response times suited for critical use cases.
via: arquimea