A British satellite manufacturer, Open Cosmos, has won control of Liechtenstein’s Ka-band spectrum, one of the most valuable frequency ranges for low Earth orbit satellite networks. The decision ends a long and politically sensitive battle that previously involved US and Chinese backed companies.
Ka-band is used for high speed satellite internet, secure communications, and defense related data services. Control of this spectrum gives Open Cosmos a strong position in Europe’s push for independent space and digital infrastructure.
The licence was previously linked to Rivada, a US company supported by investor Peter Thiel, and later disputed by Kleo Connect, a German firm backed by Chinese capital.
Ka-Band Licence Strengthens Europe’s LEO Satellite Strategy
The Ka-band frequencies assigned through Liechtenstein are considered “high priority” because they allow faster data transmission and wider coverage compared with many older satellite bands.
Open Cosmos said the spectrum will be used to support European space sovereignty and digital resilience. Europe has long lagged behind the US and China in large scale commercial satellite networks, especially in low Earth orbit.
The company confirmed that two satellites for its Ka-band constellation are already scheduled for launch in the coming weeks. These will form the first step of a broader network aimed at telecom, Earth observation, and secure data services.
For comparison, SpaceX’s Starlink also uses Ka-band along with other frequency ranges to deliver global satellite internet.
Licence History Involves Legal Disputes and Geopolitics
Liechtenstein’s Ka-band rights were once controlled by Trion, a local company working with Kleo Connect. In 2021, Rivada took a majority stake in Trion and planned a 600 satellite constellation using those licences.
Chinese investors in Kleo challenged the move in court, triggering years of legal conflict. In October 2024, Liechtenstein revoked Rivada’s licence, citing serious concerns over project financing.
Rivada later said it was negotiating with regulators to restore the rights, but in January 2026 the country instead awarded them to Open Cosmos.
Liechtenstein’s home affairs minister said the new decision ensures the Ka-band spectrum will be used in an effective and credible way.
UK Government Backs Open Cosmos Expansion
The UK government welcomed the decision. Britain’s space minister said the licence win shows the strength of British engineering and could create hundreds of skilled jobs at Open Cosmos’s manufacturing site near Oxford.
The deal also supports wider European goals to reduce dependence on foreign satellite systems for communications, navigation, and security related services.
What This Means for Satellite Navigation and Telecom
Although Ka-band is mainly used for communications rather than classic GPS style navigation, modern satellite navigation increasingly depends on fast, secure data links.
LEO satellites can:
- Support correction services for high precision GNSS.
- Enable real time positioning data for autonomous systems.
- Strengthen secure military and government navigation networks.
- Improve resilience if traditional GNSS systems are disrupted.
This makes control of LEO communication spectrum strategically important for future navigation and positioning services.
About Open Cosmos
Open Cosmos is a UK based satellite manufacturer founded in 2015. The company designs and builds small satellites for telecom, Earth observation, science missions, and secure government applications. It focuses on fast production, modular satellite platforms, and European based space infrastructure, with manufacturing centered near Oxford in England.
