RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Telespazio Brasil, a joint venture between Leonardo (67%) and Thales (33%), has officially deployed a new mobile satellite communications system for the Institutional Security Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Brazil (GSI).
The system, branded as VELOCE, follows a rigorous validation and testing campaign conducted by the GSI to ensure secure, high-availability connectivity for presidential operations.
Strategic Context for GSI Operations
The GSI is the cabinet-level federal agency responsible for the personal security of the President and Vice President of Brazil, as well as the protection of critical national infrastructure. The deployment of VELOCE represents a shift toward resilient, high-speed mobile connectivity for institutional security, specifically targeting operations in Brazil’s remote regions, such as the Amazon basin, where terrestrial infrastructure is non-existent.
The system was developed locally in Brazil in collaboration with Grupo Racco, emphasizing Leonardo’s broader roadmap of strengthening regional digitalization through sovereign-aligned space services.
Technical Specifications and Environmental Resilience
The VELOCE system leverages Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology to minimize latency and improve reliability compared to legacy geostationary (GEO) mobile terminals. Key technical features include:
- Ruggedization: All field terminals are certified to IP68 standards, providing total protection against dust and continuous immersion in water—a requirement for the GSI’s diverse operational environments.
- High-Availability: The LEO architecture ensures a persistent link for voice and high-speed data across the entirety of Brazil’s territory.
- Mobility: The system is designed for rapid deployment, allowing security details to maintain encrypted communications while in transit.
Executive Perspective
“Space is not only a strategic infrastructure, but also an enabling platform for services that deliver real value to society,” said Marzio Laurenti, CEO of Telespazio Brasil. “Our activities in Brazil and across Latin America demonstrate how satellite technologies can support both institutional and social needs.”
Deployment Timeline and Regional Outlook
The VELOCE system is already fully operational and integrated into the GSI’s current communication protocols. This contract further solidifies Telespazio’s role in the Brazilian space sector, where it already operates significant ground segment infrastructure. Looking ahead, the company is expected to expand the VELOCE platform to other Brazilian federal agencies requiring secure, ruggedized LEO-based connectivity.
