In addition to the large and powerful communications payload, Alphasat carries four hosted payloads developed through ESA’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems programme, to qualify new technologies in space.

• Laser communication and Ka-band downlink (TESAT, Germany, supported by DLR). A precursor to the future European Data Relay System EDRS.
• Q/V-band communication and propagation (Thales Alenia Space and Space Engineering, Italy)
• Startracker (Jena-Optronik, Germany)
• Environmental testing and radiation sensor (Efacec, Portugal)