Tenerife to Build Major Satellite Communications Teleport
Tenerife is set to construct a station of large parabolic antennas that will act as a bridge for satellite communications. Known as a teleport, the project is a joint initiative by the Island Council (Cabildo) through the Technological and Renewable Energies Institute (ITER) and the technology company Arquimea with its subsidiary CanarySat. This public-private alliance is co-financed by the European Union.
A Strategic Two-Phase Project
The development of the satellite communications teleport is a fundamental part of the broader CanarySat project and will proceed in two phases. The first stage will see construction of the station begin next year, with the aim of it entering service in 2028. The second stage involves the construction, launch into orbit, and commercialisation of its own broadband communications satellite network. This will offer global, secure, and high-quality services by leveraging the necessary infrastructure and capacity on the islands, both on the ground and in space.
Control Centre and Future Potential
The project also includes a Satellite and Satellite Networks Control and Operations Centre run by Arquimea. This process will provide a satellite communications antenna infrastructure and ancillary services that can serve not only the CanarySat constellation, but also control third-party satellites. This includes a future constellation announced by the Tenerife Cabildo and the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IAC) to observe and protect the Archipelago from space.
The satellite control centre promoted by Arquimea will be installed at ITER, along with a gateway or teleport that will connect to Canalink, the neutral communications operator. This teleport will form part of the CanarySat project launched by the Spanish technology company.
Leadership Hails Economic and Strategic Benefits
The President of the Cabildo, Rosa Dávila, expressed her satisfaction with the development of this initiative on the island: “With this project we will diversify the economy, attract new investors and develop an unprecedented strategy in the Canary Islands.” She emphasised that “the construction of the teleport and the satellite control centre is a decisive step to place Tenerife at the forefront of future communications.”
Antonio Abad, General Manager of CanarySat, highlighted that “this project is a great opportunity to turn the Canary Islands into a hub for secure, resilient, and sovereign satellite communications that will service growing global demand.”
High-Skilled Jobs and Premium Connectivity
The Island Councillor for Innovation, Research and Development, Juan José Martínez, explained that “the estimate is that the CanarySat project will generate around 100 new direct and indirect high-skilled jobs.” He noted it will “attract high value-added companies seeking premium real-time connectivity with low latency,” such as “satellite operators, telemedicine firms, banks, or cybersecurity companies.”
Why Tenerife Was Chosen
The keys to consolidating this project are, on one hand, Arquimea’s existing presence in the Canaries, with a strong foothold in Tenerife, and on the other, the special conditions—both fiscal and physical. These include connectivity, the availability of the D-ALiX Data Processing Centre, and high-capacity submarine connectivity via Canalink. All this is coupled with the potential for private investors to materialise the Canary Islands Investment Reserve (RIC). These are the decisive reasons why Tenerife has been proposed as the location for this infrastructure.
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