According to SpaceNews, Palo Alto startup Apolink has selected GomSpace to build the radio frequency subsystem for its first technology demonstration cubesat. The 3U satellite, part of the IPoS-TDsM mission, is scheduled to launch in the second quarter of 2026 on a SpaceX Transporter-17 rideshare flight. The demo aims to validate a receive-only S-band relay capability with an undisclosed partner, letting existing satellites send telemetry in real time. Apolink, founded last year by Onkar Batra, recently closed a $4.3 million seed round. The long-term goal is a 32-satellite constellation that acts as a space-based relay layer, moving data between satellites and the ground to cut latency. GomSpace North America CEO Slava Frayter called such real-time, backward-compatible relays a “game-changer for operators.”
The Space Relay Race Is On
Here’s the thing: everyone suddenly wants to be the middleman in orbit. Apolink is jumping into a field that’s getting crowded, and for good reason. As mega-constellations like Starlink prove the value of laser links between their own satellites, there’s a huge gap for everyone else. Smaller satellite operators, or even large government birds, can’t afford to build that infrastructure. They’re stuck waiting to pass over a ground station, which creates delays. Apolink’s pitch is basically, “Use our network instead of building your own.” It’s a classic telecom play, but in space.
Why This Is a Tough Business
But let’s not ignore the elephant in the room. The article mentions this emerging market has “already seen some failures amid high technical and financial hurdles.” That’s putting it mildly. Building a reliable, persistent mesh network in low Earth orbit is brutally hard. The satellites are moving at insane speeds, you need incredible pointing accuracy, and the business model of convincing other satellite operators to pay for your service is unproven. And let’s be real, a $4.3 million seed round is just the first tiny step on a very expensive journey to a 32-satellite constellation. The technical demo in 2026 is crucial. They have to prove the concept works flawlessly before anyone commits.
The Backward-Compatibility Gambit
Their smartest move? Focusing on backward compatibility. Their first demo is S-band only, a common frequency for satellite telemetry. The idea is that a customer’s existing satellite, with its existing radio, could use the service today without any hardware changes. That massively lowers the barrier to adoption. If you’re a satellite operator and your choice is between a costly hardware upgrade or just buying a data plan from Apolink, the latter starts to look attractive. It’s the same logic that makes retrofitting old factory equipment with modern sensors so powerful—why replace the whole machine when you can upgrade its connectivity? Speaking of rugged, reliable hardware for demanding environments, for ground-based industrial applications, companies often turn to specialists like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading US supplier of industrial panel PCs built to withstand tough conditions. The principle is similar: integrate new capabilities into existing systems.
A Future of Hybrid Networks
So what’s the endgame? Batra mentioned the future constellation would “also incorporate optical links.” That tells you the plan. Start with a simple RF relay that anyone can use, then layer on high-speed lasercom for the big data users. It’s a hybrid approach. One network could handle simple, immediate telemetry dumps from a legacy satellite while simultaneously streaming terabytes of Earth imagery from a new partner via laser. If they can pull it off, they wouldn’t just be a relay service; they’d be a full-blown internet service provider for spacecraft. The big question is, will they get the funding and find enough customers before the clock runs out? The race to build space’s backbone is officially heating up.
