Hungarian company 4iG Space and Defence (4iG SDT) says it has signed a preliminary, non-binding commitment letter with US-based Axiom Space, a global leader in commercial spaceflight and low Earth orbit (LEO) infrastructure development.
4iG SDT, which has a strong space technology focus, is part of the 4iG Group, a provider of integrated telecommunications services in Hungary and the Western Balkans.
Under the agreement 4iG SDT is said to be evaluating a US$100 million equity investment to acquire a stake in Axiom Space. The parties have also reaffirmed their commitment to collaborate on the development of orbital data centre (ODC) systems. Under the agreement, 4iG SDT may become the first European technology company to join the ODC programme and will also participate in the development of Axiom Space’s global space marketplace.
The ODC programme aims to establish a next-generation data centre in orbit, capable of processing and storing the vast amounts of data generated in space directly on-site.
This, says 4iG SDT, represents a breakthrough compared to traditional terrestrial systems, as it enables real-time filtering and analysis of information in space, reduces the volume of data requiring downlink to Earth, and significantly enhances the efficiency of data management.
As 4iG SDT points out, if this goes ahead, the project may serve as a link between Hungary and other strategic markets, securing a prominent international position for the Hungarian space industry.
According to the letter, 4iG SDT will also leverage Axiom Space’s global space marketplace, providing Hungarian technology developments with direct access to the international space industry ecosystem.
István Sárhegyi, CEO of 4iG SDT, explains: “The agreement represents international recognition of Hungary’s space capabilities, could open new horizons in research and development, and lays the foundation for long-term engagement with global market players.” He adds: “Through the Orbital Data Centre programme, we can not only leverage the expertise of Hungarian professionals but also inspire the next generation in space exploration and STEM.”
The concept of data centres in orbit is not just attracting the interest of Axiom and 4iG. Reuters today reported a prediction from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos at a recent technology event that gigawatt-scale data centres will be built in space within the next 10 to 20 years and that continuously available solar energy meant they would eventually outperform those based on Earth.
