Orange and Telesat have officially launched the first European gateway dedicated to the Lightspeed satellite constellation, located in the Aube department of France. This new infrastructure aims to provide secure, low-latency connectivity for European businesses and government agencies. The gateway is situated at the Bercenay-en-Othe teleport, a modern facility equipped with advanced antennas designed to link Telesat’s future low-orbit satellites with Orange’s high-speed network, ultimately connecting to a presence point in Paris. The inauguration took place on Thursday, September 17, marking a significant step in the development of next-generation satellite communication. The Bercenay-en-Othe station is now outfitted with state-of-the-art antennas from South Korea's Intellian Technologies. Unlike traditional geostationary satellites that remain fixed in the sky, the Lightspeed satellites orbit rapidly at lower altitudes. This requires the antennas to continuously track the moving satellites to maintain a stable connection. The gateway functions as a critical link between the initial 225 satellites in the Lightspeed constellation and Orange's broader network. Data from space must first pass through such a gateway before reaching ground-based networks, where it can then travel via high-speed cables to the Paris presence point. The station has been certified as Tier-4 by the World Teleport Association, a top-tier designation that highlights its reliability, security, and ability to handle critical infrastructure needs. Jean-Louis Le Roux, director of international networks at Orange, expressed satisfaction with hosting the gateway at Bercenay-en-Othe, calling it a key move in strengthening Orange's role in the space industry and supporting the growing need for secure connectivity. The gateway is also expected to become a vital hub for future satellite networks in Europe. The Lightspeed network is designed to use optical links between satellites, allowing data to travel directly from one satellite to another using laser beams. This reduces reliance on terrestrial infrastructure, making the system more resilient and efficient. This feature is particularly appealing to government and defense clients who prioritize control over their data. Telesat, the Canadian company behind the Lightspeed constellation, has partnered with Orange to build the necessary ground infrastructure. Together, they aim to expand connectivity to underserved regions, such as rural and mountainous areas, where fiber and 4G coverage are limited. This collaboration is part of a broader competition with other low-orbit satellite constellations like Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper. While Orange's involvement ensures the terrestrial part of the network is under French control, the satellites themselves remain operated by a Canadian company, raising questions about the extent of digital sovereignty this partnership truly offers.