Kineis, a new key player in the New Space Race is launching 20 nanosatellites by 2021

Press Release by Kineis

According to a study published by CISCO, by 2020 there will be more than 30 billion connected objects in the world. This unprecedented development will transform the world economy. Currently, 90% of the world is either not network-connected, or connected but prohibitively expensive. Furthermore, today’s IoT offer is difficult to use. Yet the needs exist now: how do you find a lost container? Or a container is transporting perishable goods: how do you remotely control its temperature? A traditional fishing boat suffers engine failure: how do you send out an SOS call? How do you track it down to offer assistance? A hiker in Nepal wants to share his trip with his friends and family in real time: how can he post his route? Logistics, fishing, agriculture and outdoor recreation are all sectors seeking affordable global connectivity! The Kineis constellation will be in orbit by 2021.

To address these issues and facilitate the use of this technology, CLS is expanding and has created Kineis, with CNES’s support.

“With French excellence in space, the unfailing support of CNES, and key accounts who will be participating in a future round table, we decided to create Kineis to make satellite geolocation and data collection accessible to as many people as possible.” — Christophe Vassal, Chairman of the CLS Executive Board

“Kineis is a satellite operator that will provide unique, universal connectivity fully dedicated to the IoT industry. Any object fitted with a Kineis modem can be located and transmit data wherever it is, whatever the conditions. Kineis connectivity is simple to integrate into third-party devices, consumes very little power and is reliable. All this will be available at a very competitive price, making it accessible to as many people as possible, so Kineis will very soon be locating and collecting data from several million connected objects, in real or near-real time. The company will become the natural partner for all entrepreneurs seeking to offer their customers an inexpensive satellite-based Internet of Things.” — Alexandre Tisserant, Kineis Project Leader

Kineis connectivity draws on a new innovative satellite constellation of 20 nanosatellites with a new communication technology tailor-made for connected objects. CLS has entrusted the development of this constellation to Thales Alenia Space for the prime contractor of the complete system, which will rely on Nexeya for the fabrication of nanosatellite platforms and Syrlinks for its support in the design and construction of the instrument. The constellation will be in orbit in 2021.

“We are extremely proud to be able to bring our expertise to the development of this major project both for our company but also for our subcontractors and partners. It is the result of successful collaboration between CLS, Nexeya, Syrlinks and Thales Alenia Space rooted in Thales Alenia Space’s long-standing involvement in the ARGOS programme and the French Space Agency’s Angels/Argos NEO nanosatellite project, which has lent credibility to an innovative system approach based on a very reliable, high-performance nanosat constellation,” said Jean Loïc Galle, CEO of Thales Alenia Space. “We are also delighted to bring our solution derived from Meolut-NEXT, certified in 2016 and operational since December 2017. It was a prize-winner in the ‘Humanitarian achievement’ category of the Better Satellite World Awards organised by Space & Satellite Professionals International (SSPI),” he added.

Kineis has CNES’s unconditional backing to developp what will become soon a worldwide reference. A new opportunity for CNES to promote the development of the space industry and its excellence.” — Jean-Yves Le Gall, CNES President

In complementing ground and space based telecom players, Kineis plans to work closely with terrestrial IoT operators, current satellite operators and connected object manufacturers. Kineis connectivity is positioned as an entry-level service for certain satellite operators and as a complement for terrestrial operators wishing to offer their customers worldwide coverage.

In making location and data collection services more widely available, CLS is revolutionising ARGOS and democratising a system that has enabled the history of animal migration to be rewritten, marine resources to be managed sustainably, piracy to be fought and the greatest ocean races to be followed. More efficient, easier and affordable, the unique and universal connectivity offered by Kineis will soon be widely available to the general public (outdoor leisure activities, boating, etc.) and the private sector (logistics, fishing, agriculture, etc.). Kineis will enable IoT use to make the impossible, possible.


Kineis is an independent, private satellite operator, a connectivity provider and subsidiary of CLS. An emerging player in the New Space sector, the company proposes innovative global connectivity for the IoT domain. Kineis locates and collects data all over the globe in all conditions. The company aims to work closely with terrestrial IoT operators, current satellite operators and connected object manufacturers. It offers universal, simple, low-power, reliable connectivity at a cost accessible to as many people as possible. It is based on an innovative new satellite constellation of 20 nanosatellites custom developed for IoT by Thales Alenia Space, Nexeya and Syrlinks. The constellation will be orbited around 2021. It draws on the ARGOS system legacy of 40 years of experience in location and data collection.

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