Bulgaria Sat
Bulgaria Sat operates Bulgaria's sole geostationary communications satellite (BulgariaSat-1), delivering secure satellite capacity, managed SATCOM, and broadcast connectivity to government, defense, maritime, mobility, and enterprise customers across Europe, MENA, and Africa.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersSofia, Bulgaria
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Bulgaria Sat does
Bulgaria Sat is Bulgaria's first and only geostationary satellite operator, founded in 2014 and headquartered in Sofia, Bulgaria. The company owns and operates BulgariaSat-1, a single GEO communications satellite launched in June 2017 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 and positioned at the 1.9°E orbital slot. The spacecraft, built on the SSL 1300 platform, carries 33 Ku-band transponders (3 FSS and 30 BSS) and is designed for a 15-20 year operational life, providing coverage across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, the Balkans, and the Black Sea region. Bulgaria Sat is one of only six EU member states with sovereign geostationary satellite capacity, and the only satellite operator headquartered in Eastern Europe with such infrastructure.
The company monetizes its satellite capacity through subscription-based recurring revenue, leasing transponder capacity and providing managed SATCOM services across four primary vertical markets: government and defense, maritime, on-the-move (land/rail/air), and broadcast/media. All engagements are quote-based with multi-year contract terms and SLA-backed uptime guarantees of 99.5-99.9%. Distribution occurs through direct enterprise sales from Sofia supplemented by two core channel partnerships — Media Broadcast Satellite GmbH for Eastern European broadcast distribution and ComStellation for secure SATCOM in Poland and the Baltic States. A 24/7 Network Operations Center staffed by Bulgarian engineers in Sofia provides round-the-clock monitoring and technical support.
In February 2026, Bulgaria Sat announced a strategic shift toward secure SATCOM, aligning with the EU GovSatCom initiative and positioning itself as a sovereign European communications infrastructure provider for defense, security, and critical-infrastructure customers. The strategic roadmap includes development and planned serial production in Bulgaria of a new generation of secure ground terminals for geostationary communications, expanding the company's revenue base from raw capacity leasing into integrated hardware-plus-services solutions.
Bulgaria Sat firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bulgaria Sat
- Legal name
- Bulgaria Sat EAD
- Website
- https://bulgariasat.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Bulgaria Sat operates Bulgaria's sole geostationary communications satellite (BulgariaSat-1), delivering secure satellite capacity, managed SATCOM, and broadcast connectivity to government, defense, maritime, mobility, and enterprise customers across Europe, MENA, and Africa.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bulgaria Sat industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Satellite Communications Services
- NAICS
- Satellite Telecommunications (5174), Satellite Telecommunications (51741)
- SIC
- Computer Communications Equipment (3576), Radiotelephone Communications (4812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Enterprise Satellite Connectivity & Managed Services (VSAT, SD-WAN over Satcom) (HDAIAJAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Satellite Network Operations & Capacity Services (NOC, Capacity Leasing, Managed Payload Services) (HDAIAJAI), Satellite Video & Media Distribution (DTH, Contribution/Distribution, Occasional Use) (HDAIAJAG), Satellite Broadband Internet Access (Consumer/SMB) (HDAIAJAA), NTN-Enabled Emergency, Government & Defense Communications (Public Safety, Tactical, Resilience) (HDAIAJAJ), Satellite Broadband Terminals & Gateways (VSAT/LEO CPE) (HDAFAIAM)
Keywords
Where Bulgaria Sat is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sofia
- HQ country
- Bulgaria
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Bulgaria Sat business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations
Revenue model
- Satellite Capacity Provision: Provision of guaranteed satellite capacity for government institutions, defense organizations, and commercial operators across coverage regions including Europe, MENA, and Africa. Revenue generated through dedicated capacity agreements and transponder leasing.
- End-to-End Secure SATCOM Solutions: Integrated solutions including satellite capacity integration, ground infrastructure deployment, and operational management for defense, security, critical infrastructure, and crisis management applications. Aligned with EU GovSatCom initiative for sustainable revenue streams.
- Broadcast Services: Comprehensive DTH platform hosting, content contribution, uplink services, and end-to-end media delivery for television and radio broadcasters, media companies, and content distributors across Europe, Middle East, and Africa.
- On The Move Solutions: Continuous satellite connectivity services for mobile platforms and vehicles operating on land, sea, and air, providing reliable communications while in motion regardless of location.
- Maritime Broadband Connectivity: Advanced broadband connectivity and operational communication solutions for commercial fleets, offshore platforms, and specialized vessels including high-speed internet, crew welfare connectivity, and VSAT networks.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Government and Defense SATCOM - Secure encrypted satellite communications with dedicated government networks and 99.9% uptime SLA |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Maritime Services - Broadband connectivity with global support and 99.5% availability |
| Subscription | Annual | Broadcast Services - DTH, uplink, and content distribution with 24/7 monitoring |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Bulgaria Sat product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bulgaria Sat operates BulgariaSat-1, Bulgaria's first geostationary communications satellite positioned at 1.9°E with 33 Ku-band transponders, providing secure and reliable satellite communications services across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The company delivers four integrated service verticals—Government Services, Maritime Services, On The Move Solutions, and Broadcast Services—targeting defense, security, commercial maritime, mobility, and media broadcasting sectors. The portfolio emphasizes sovereign secure SATCOM aligned with the EU GovSatCom initiative.
Product overview
Bulgaria Sat operates as a satellite communications provider offering a unified portfolio centered on BulgariaSat-1, the nation's first geostationary communications satellite launched in 2017. The company delivers four integrated service verticals—Government Services, Maritime Services, On The Move Solutions, and Broadcast Services—that leverage the satellite's 33 transponder capacity across Ku-band FSS and BSS frequencies. The service architecture provides mission-critical communications for defense, security, crisis management, commercial maritime, mobility, and media broadcasting sectors, with the strategic focus expanding toward secure SATCOM for European defense applications through EU GovSatCom alignment.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- BulgariaSat-1 Bulgaria's first geostationary communications satellite providing high-performance services across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Operates at orbital position 1.9°E with 33 transponders (3 Ku-band FSS and 30 Ku-band BSS) on SSL 1300 platform.
- Government Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Service operational across Europe including Central and Eastern Europe and Ukraine
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Bulgaria Sat
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Bulgaria Sat technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Bulgaria Sat partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- ComStellationcoreStrategic partnership with Polish operator ComStellation positioning BulgariaSat-1 as operational infrastructure for secure satellite communications (secure SATCOM) in Poland and across Central and Eastern Europe. The partnership enables provision of secure satellite connectivity for civil-military (dual-use) applications in Poland and Baltic States via dedicated capacity on BulgariaSat-1 at 1.9°E. Service is already operational across Europe including CEE and Ukraine. Partnership was validated by independent technical testing conducted by Poland's National Institute of Telecommunications (IŁ–PIB).
- Poland National Institute of Telecommunications (IŁ–PIB)supportingIndependent technical validation partner conducting series of tests confirming full territorial coverage of Poland, high resilience to interference, and stable link performance for BulgariaSat-1 secure SATCOM services. Tests observed by representatives from Polish Space Agency (POLSA) and validated performance including carrier-to-noise (C/N) and Eb/No margins, stable VoIP and video conferencing sessions, and high data throughput.
- Media Broadcast Satellite GmbHcorePartnership with German Media Broadcast Satellite GmbH, a full-service provider for broadcast, data, and teleport services, to expand the customer base of BulgariaSat-1 across Eastern Europe. Media Broadcast Satellite operates 19 DVB-S and DVB-S2 platforms for national and international customers through their teleport in Usingen, Germany, offering comprehensive satellite distribution services including playout systems, signal contribution, multiplexing, encryption, and uplink services.
- SpaceXcoreLaunch services provider for BulgariaSat-1, successfully launching the satellite aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A on June 23, 2017. The launch used a previously flown Falcon 9 first-stage booster, marking another milestone in reusable launch technology. SpaceX partnership began in 2006 when Bulgaria Sat selected them for the mission.
- Space Systems/Loral (SSL)coreSatellite manufacturer and technology partner for BulgariaSat-1 development. SSL, based in Silicon Valley, California, built the satellite on the proven SSL 1300 platform. The partnership included active involvement of Bulgarian engineers in the manufacturing process. SSL is a leading provider of commercial satellites with extensive expertise supporting satellite operators globally.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Bulgaria Sat competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- SES: Luxembourg-based global GEO operator (one of the EU's six satellite-capacity nations alongside Bulgaria) — directly competes in EMEA broadcast, enterprise VSAT and government secure communications, with a substantially larger fleet and O3b mPOWER MEO capacity.
- Telesat: Canadian GEO operator with a planned LEO constellation (Telesat Lightspeed) — provides architectural-comparable reference for a regional/national operator navigating the GEO-to-LEO transition.
- Eutelsat: One of the world's largest GEO operators with extensive coverage across Europe, MENA and Africa — competes head-on with Bulgaria Sat across broadcast, broadband and government verticals but at far greater scale and fleet diversity, and is also converging with the OneWeb LEO constellation.
Regional players
- Arabsat: Middle East–anchored GEO operator serving MENA broadcast and government customers — overlaps with Bulgaria Sat's MENA footprint and broadcast distribution use cases, providing regional competitive context.
- Türksat: Turkish state-backed GEO satellite operator covering Eastern Europe, MENA and Central Asia — directly comparable government/defense-aligned operator competing for adjacent CEE and Black Sea demand.
Direct peers
- Hispasat: Spanish GEO satellite operator with overlapping broadcast DTH, enterprise connectivity and government/defense service lines across Europe, Latin America and MENA — directly comparable in customer mix, capacity-leasing model and EU national-champion posture.
- Hellas Sat: Greek-Cypriot geostationary satellite operator providing broadcast, telecom and government services across Europe, MENA and Africa — the most directly comparable single-satellite EU member-state GEO operator to Bulgaria Sat, sharing the same regulatory and EU-GovSatCom positioning dynamic.
- Avanti Communications: UK-headquartered satellite operator focused on Ka-band capacity for enterprise, government and EMEA connectivity — comparable niche GEO operator competing for similar EMEA enterprise and government secure communications contracts.
Others
- Media Broadcast Satellite GmbH: German teleport and satellite distribution operator that resells Bulgaria Sat capacity while also operating its own broadcast platforms — a customer/channel partner but also a comparable European satellite-services integrator in the broadcast vertical.
- ComStellation: Polish secure-SATCOM service provider and Bulgaria Sat's strategic channel partner for CEE/Baltic/Ukraine — most directly tied counterpart for understanding sovereign secure SATCOM go-to-market dynamics in the region.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bulgaria Sat social profiles
Digital presenceBulgaria Sat financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bulgaria Sat leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Bulgaria Sat funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bulgaria Sat M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bulgaria Sat
What does Bulgaria Sat do?
Bulgaria Sat operates BulgariaSat-1, Bulgaria's first geostationary communications satellite positioned at 1.9°E with 33 Ku-band transponders, providing secure and reliable satellite communications services across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The company delivers four integrated service verticals—Government Services, Maritime Services, On The Move Solutions, and Broadcast Services—targeting defense, security, commercial maritime, mobility, and media broadcasting sectors. The portfolio emphasizes sovereign secure SATCOM aligned with the EU GovSatCom initiative.
Is Bulgaria Sat a public or private company?
Bulgaria Sat is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Bulgaria Sat founded?
Bulgaria Sat was founded in 2017. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Bulgaria Sat based?
Bulgaria Sat is headquartered in Sofia, Bulgaria, in the Europe region.
How does Bulgaria Sat make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Satellite Capacity Provision is the primary driver. The others are end-to-End Secure SATCOM Solutions, broadcast Services, on The Move Solutions and maritime Broadband Connectivity.
Who are Bulgaria Sat's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are SES, Telesat and Eutelsat. Regional players are Arabsat and Türksat. Direct peers are Hispasat, Hellas Sat and Avanti Communications. Others are Media Broadcast Satellite GmbH and ComStellation.
Does Bulgaria Sat have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bulgaria Sat.
What industry is Bulgaria Sat in?
Bulgaria Sat's product category is Satellite Communications Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAIAJAB, Enterprise Satellite Connectivity & Managed Services (VSAT, SD-WAN over Satcom), with a secondary code of HDAIAJAI, Satellite Network Operations & Capacity Services (NOC, Capacity Leasing, Managed Payload Services). Its NAICS code is 5174 and its SIC code is 3576.