Why Does Control of Ka-Band Spectrum Matter for Europe's Future?
Jan 24, 2026
Open Cosmos announced in January that it had successfully obtained Liechtenstein’s high-priority Ka-band spectrum allocations, enabling the British space technology company to establish a European sovereign satellite broadband network. This acquisition represents a major step forward for the UK-headquartered firm as it enters the increasingly crowded Low-Earth Orbit communications infrastructure market. The spectrum rights will allow Open Cosmos to build and operate a dedicated constellation serving European government and business needs through secure, reliable connectivity.
Open Cosmos’ constellation promo. Credit: Open Cosmos
The next LEO network will be aimed at offering high-quality, secure communications systems that are designed to support government agencies and corporate customers, according to the CEO Rafel Jorda Siquier. The company has decided not to disclose all the information as yet, such as the official name of the constellation and the number of the satellites that are to be deployed in the system. Hubert Büchel, the Minister of Home Affairs, Economy and Sport in Liechtenstein commented that the ruling demonstrated his country’s commitment to ensure that they make the most out of their allocated frequencies. The company has established an aggressive schedule, with the launch of its first two demonstration spacecraft scheduled before the end of Q1, and Rocket Lab is partnering with the company to launch its spacecraft using the New Zealand facilities.
The CEO disclosed that his team had already outpaced their past production speed records in order to finish the satellites in the narrow Q1 timeframe with the production process occurring at their plant in Harwell, Oxfordshire. International cooperation was also a major factor, with engineering teams in Spain, Portugal and Greece all contributing to the project, producing two spacecraft with weights between 100 and 150 kilograms each. The company has successfully deployed thirteen satellites to date and has been profitable for the past five years.
Open Cosmos plans to forge partnerships with ground-based telecommunications providers, with Siquier predicting considerable demand from government bodies, telecom companies, and major corporations, especially in areas such as automotive connectivity. He stressed that clients are looking for more options to prevent dependence on infrastructure controlled by a handful of private individuals, citing this constellation as a counterbalance to networks such as Amazon LEO. Additionally, the company secured the contract to direct Spain’s contribution to the Atlantic Constellation, a collaborative Earth Observation program between Spanish and Portuguese space agencies, requiring Open Cosmos to engineer eight microsatellites at their Barcelona production center for 2027 completion.
Siquier talked about how these spectrum allocations form a key part of Europe’s evolving strategic autonomy, observing that the continent has been actively building independent capabilities as secure global communications infrastructure has become indispensable. He described emergency scenarios—ranging from natural disasters to security situations at international borders—where dependable space-based communication links would be critical for response coordination. Given today’s volatile geopolitical environment, he argued that both governments and businesses need assurance that they can count on trusted, domestically-controlled communication assets. Baroness Liz Lloyd, the UK’s Space Minister, praised the achievement, stating that obtaining these valuable spectrum rights showcased British creativity and ambition.
