Plan-S to Introduce Türkiye to New Satellite Services, Announces Global Expansion and Ambitious Constellation Roadmap

In a comprehensive update, company executives outlined their “New Space” philosophy, ambitious deployment plans for IoT and Earth Observation constellations, and significant progress in securing international operating licenses.

A New Space Approach for Türkiye

Özdemir Gümüşay, CEO of Plan-S, emphasized that the company operates with a “New Space” perspective, characterized by risk-taking, agility, and a firm focus on the commercialization of space. While acknowledging Türkiye’s long-standing space industry efforts, Gümüşay highlighted Plan-S’s unique position in focusing on commercial applications driven by the private sector.

“Our primary focus is on IoT (Internet of Things) communications, alongside civil Earth Observation applications and end-to-end, turnkey solutions for both military and civilian use,” stated Gümüşay.

An Ambitious Satellite Deployment Roadmap

Since its founding in 2021, Plan-S has rapidly grown its presence in orbit, currently operating 17 satellites. With four more launches planned before the year’s end, the fleet will expand to 21 satellites.

Gümüşay detailed the company’s aggressive future roadmap:

• Connecta IoT Network: “We plan to launch nearly 200 satellites over the next 4-5 years to provide a truly global IoT service.”
• Observa Earth Observation Constellation: The company is targeting a 60-satellite constellation. The first satellite is scheduled for launch in 2026, with integration and verification work already underway. The plan is to deploy 25 satellites in the first four years, eventually completing the 60-satellite fleet.

Key Licensing Milestone Unlocks Domestic and Global Services

Plan-S recently achieved a critical milestone by becoming the first company in Türkiye authorized as a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite operator by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK).

“This authorization is a pivotal development for us,” Gümüşay explained. “It not only allows us to provide services widely within Türkiye but also acts as a catalyst for our global licensing processes. Other countries view this domestic authorization as a prerequisite, and it significantly builds trust and streamlines our applications worldwide.”

The company has already secured a license to provide IoT services in Australia and has ongoing licensing processes in key markets such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Azerbaijan, and the United States.

Diverse Applications and Foray into Direct-to-Device Services

Plan-S is already deploying its technology across various sectors. The company is working with the energy sector on smart meter reading and has initiated field applications for public energy and security needs after successful tests.

“Within Türkiye, our field applications are growing rapidly, with nearly 1,000 devices currently in operation,” Gümüşay said. “Internationally, we see applications in monitoring oil and gas pipelines in the Gulf region, asset and container tracking in oceans, and even supporting scientific research in remote locations like Antarctica, where we have four devices deployed with the METU science team.”

Gümüşay also confirmed Plan-S’s entry into the Direct-to-Device (D2D) satellite communication market. “We are now involved in R&D and feasibility studies to provide satellite services directly to standard cell phones. Our goal is to facilitate the development of a domestic solution for Türkiye. We aim to achieve this through collaboration with other space sector players, mobile operators, and the public sector, as this is a strategic imperative for national sovereignty.”

A Call for Bold Support for the Private Sector

Gümüşay highlighted the global paradigm shift in the space industry, driven by increased private sector involvement. He pointed to the success of companies like SpaceX, which was propelled by NASA’s trust and contracts.

“The emergence of new private players is promising,” Gümüşay said. “This process must be supported with bolder moves. The dynamics of the private sector are well-suited to solving challenges faster and more effectively. Such opportunities now exist here in Türkiye.”