NACE 61.3 – Satellite Telecommunications Activities | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 61.3 covers the operation of satellite communications systems and the provision of telecommunications services via satellite — from broadband coverage of remote regions and satellite navigation through to secure government communications via GovSat systems.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026

What does NACE 61.3 cover?

NACE 61.3 (Satellite telecommunications activities) classifies companies that provide communication services via satellite systems — a niche segment of growing importance for authorities in remote areas, for disaster communications and for security-critical government applications.

Group 61.3 within Division 61 (Telecommunications) covers the following areas of activity:

Significant public contracting authorities include defence ministries, civil protection agencies, maritime authorities, space agencies as well as development cooperation organisations for missions in underserved regions.

Public Tenders: Sector NACE 61.3

Satellite telecommunications is a strategically important procurement segment — particularly in defence, in disaster communications and for the coverage of remote locations.

Typical types of contract

• Satellite broadband coverage: Internet connectivity for authorities, schools and public institutions in regions without terrestrial broadband
• Emergency and disaster communications: Satellite communication systems for public safety organisations (e.g. THW, the German federal armed forces)
• Government satellite communications (GovSat): Secure transmission capacities on military or protected civilian satellites
• Maritime communications: Satellite-based communications for coastguards, shipping authorities and research vessels
• Satellite imagery services: Earth-observation imagery for spatial planning, civil protection and military use
• LEO satellite connectivity: Services via low-earth-orbit satellites (e.g. Starlink, OneWeb) for crisis areas

Thresholds and procedure types

Contracts in the area of satellite telecommunications are frequently individual projects with high contract values and therefore regularly exceed the EU thresholds. For defence-relevant procurement, Directive 2009/81/EC (defence and security procurement) applies, which sets out separate procedure rules. Civilian satellite services are tendered in the open or restricted procedure under the classical EU directive 2014/24/EU.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 61.3

CPV codes assist in targeted research for satellite telecommunications tenders on national and European procurement platforms.

Current tenders can be found on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) — for defence-relevant contracts also on the NATO procurement portal and on the website of the ESA (European Space Agency).

Who is NACE 61.3 relevant for in public procurement?

Public contracting authorities

Satellite telecommunications is a specialised segment with a manageable but well-resourced group of contracting authorities:

• Defence ministries: Procurement of GovSat capacities, satellite terminals and secure communication systems
• Civil protection authorities: THW, civil defence and comparable organisations need resilient satellite communications
• Maritime authorities: Coastguards, water police, port authorities with a need for sea-worthy communications technology
• Space agencies: ESA, DLR, FFG as contracting authorities for satellite systems and services
• Development cooperation: Ministries and agencies that procure satellite communications for missions in crisis regions

Companies and bidders

The satellite telecommunications market segment is characterised by high entry barriers and few specialised providers:

• Highly specialised know-how: Satellite communications requires specific technical expertise and experience
• Security clearances: For defence-related contracts, reliability checks and confidentiality clearances are required
• International presence: Many satellite services are provided by multinational companies; consortia are common
• Certifications: ISO 27001 for information security, specific military standards (e.g. NATO STANAG)
• Frequency allocation: Evidence of frequency rights for satellite operation

Frequently Asked Questions on NACE 61.3 and public tenders

Who uses satellite telecommunications in the public sector? Primarily defence institutions, civil protection authorities and bodies in areas without terrestrial infrastructure. With the rollout of low-cost LEO satellite constellations (e.g. Starlink, OneWeb), civilian demand is also growing.

Are satellite telecommunications contracts subject to ordinary public procurement law? Defence-relevant contracts fall under Directive 2009/81/EC with separate procedure rules. Civilian satellite services (e.g. broadband coverage via satellite) are subject to classical public procurement law.

What are LEO satellite services and why are they relevant for authorities? LEO satellites (Low Earth Orbit) circle the earth at low altitude and offer significantly lower latency than classical geostationary satellites. Services such as Starlink enable government broadband coverage in coverage gaps — a growing tendering segment.

How does NACE 61.3 differ from NACE 61.9? NACE 61.3 covers specifically satellite-based communications. NACE 61.9 (Other telecommunications activities) covers all other forms of telecommunications that cannot be assigned to groups 61.1–61.3.

NACE 61.3 in context: Section J and Division 61

• NACE J – Information and Communication: Parent section with all ICT activities
• NACE 61 – Telecommunications: Division with all telecommunications services
• NACE 61.1 – Wired telecommunications activities: Fixed line, fibre, broadband
• NACE 61.2 – Wireless telecommunications activities: Mobile communications and Wi-Fi infrastructure
• NACE 61.9 – Other telecommunications activities: Residual category of telecommunications

Last updated: January 2026 All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.