Leaf Space
Leaf Space S.p.A. is an Italian ground-segment-as-a-service provider that operates a globally distributed network of radio-frequency and optical ground stations for satellite operators. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Lomazzo, Lombardy, the company supports more than 100 spacecraft with pay-as-you-go connectivity, autonomous pass-scheduling software, and per-minute pricing.
History
Leaf Space was established in 2014 by four aerospace-engineering graduates—Jonata Puglia, Giovanni Pandolfi Bortoletto, Michele Messina and Matteo Boiocchi—who initially built their first S-band antenna in a garage near Milan. Originally focusing on the launch market, Leaf Space instead decided to build a ground network due to the difficulty to receive funding for a new launcher in Italy.In March 2021, the company announced plans to open a U.S. office to serve government and commercial customers.
Operations milestones
Funding and investors
Services and technology
The company's flagship service, Leaf Line, offers fully managed TT&C and payload downlink through an API interface, combined with smart scheduler that aids satellite operators in allocating the satellite passes. Leaf Line supports S-band, X-band, and Ka-band operations. Dedicated antennas for specific use case frequencies are marketed under Leaf Key.Ground-station network
- Coverage – 36 ground stations across 19 sites across the world as of October 2025.
- Bands and specs – S-band uplink, S-band downlink, X-band downlink to 1.2 Gbps, Ka-band to 6 Gbps; limited UHF support.
- Expansion – 6 additional antennas are currently planned as of November 2025.
| Site | Antennas | Frequencies | Status | Notes |
| La Paz, Mexico | 2 | S-X | Active | |
| Santiago, Chile | 3 | S-X | Active | |
| Punta Arenas, Chile | 3 | S-X, S-X-Ka | Active | Supports rideshare LEOP campaigns like SpaceX’s Transporter missions where multiple satellites are launched together and required a timely support to initiate first communication with Earth. |
| Blönduós, Iceland | 3 | S-X, S-X-Ka | Active | |
| Santa Maria, Azores, Portugal | 3 | S-X | Active | Provides additional capacity for SSO orbits. In collaboration with Edisoft |
| Shetland, United Kingdom | 2 | S-X, S | Active | Boosts capacity for sun-synchronous and mid-inclination orbits |
| Montsec, Spain | 2 | S-X | Active | |
| Plana, Bulgaria | 1 | S-X | Active | |
| Pretoria, South Africa | 2 | S-X | Active | |
| Absheron, Azerbaijan | 2 | S-X | Active | In collaboration with Azercosmos |
| Mon Loisir, Mauritius | 1 | S-X | Active | |
| Peterborough, Australia | 1 | S-X | Active | |
| Awarua, New Zealand | 3 | S-X-Ka | Active | At Awarua SGS teleport |
| Nangetty, West Australia | 2 | S-X | Active | In collaboration with Capricorn Space, delivers more capacity from the southern hemisphere to address increasing clients demand over that area |
| Jeju, South Korea | 1 | S-X | Active | |
| Kandy, Sri Lanka | 1 | S-X | Active | Provids capabilities in the equatorial orbit for the first time |
| Maui, Hawaii | 1 | S-X | Planned | |
| Utqiagvik, Alaska | 1 | S-X-Ka | Planned | |
| Talkeetna, Alaska | 1 | S-X | Planned | |
| Canso, Nova Scotia, Canada | 1 | S-X | Planned | In collaboration with Maritime Launch Services |
| Al Ain, United Arab Emirates | 1 | S-X | Planned | |
| Longwood, St Helena | 1 | S-X | Planned | |
| Kaunas, Lithuania | No longer operational | Second Antenna. No longer included on Leaf Space website. | ||
| Puertollano, Spain | No longer operational | Third Antenna. In collaboration with Deimos Imaging. No longer included on Leaf Space website. | ||
| Cork, Ireland | No longer operational | Fourth Antenna. No longer included on Leaf Space website. | ||
| Italy | No longer operational | Included on Leaf Space map in 2021. No longer included on Leaf Space website. |
Partnerships and MoU">Memorandum of understanding">MoUs
- Smallspark Space Systems – MoU with UK-based research, development, and innovation company Smallspark Space Systems to deliver joint bids for projects with the UK Government and other commercial operators in the UK.
- Agnikul – MoU with India-based launch service company Agnikul for the provisioning of ground segment services for their Agnibaan rocket, and provide packaged ground segment support for their customers.
- CYSEC – MoU with Switzerland-based cyber security company CYSEC to deliver end-to-end cyber security protection covering the ground station network and the mission control software.
- Odysseus Space – Partnership with Taiwan-based Odysseus Space to apply the CYCLOPS optical communications solution to develop a hybrid ground station network for both optical and radio frequency communications.
- Infostellar – MoU with Tokyo-based Infostellar to integrate with Infostellar's StellarStation and for Infostellar to be the exclusive representative of Leaf Space to the Japanese market.