Open Cosmos Sets 192-Satellite Target for European LEO Network by 2030

Open Cosmos expands ConnectedCosmos to 192 satellites with 2030 coverage target

Open Cosmos announced on October 5, 2026 that its ConnectedCosmos low-Earth-orbit network will consist of 192 satellites, with more than 96 targeted in orbit by the end of 2028 and global coverage planned by 2030. The Barcelona-based company positions the constellation as a secure, European-governed alternative to Starlink and OneWeb, but has disclosed neither customer pricing nor service-level commitments—making it a roadmap option for enterprise buyers, not an immediately procurable carrier.

The announcement provides deployment scale but leaves commercial fundamentals unanswered. CEO Rafel Siquier told SpaceNews that at least 50 satellites have been built for the initial deployment. The next launch is planned before year-end 2026, with additional missions under discussion through mid-2027. Open Cosmos has not published throughput benchmarks, latency guarantees, terminal costs, or a contracted customer count.

What this means for enterprise connectivity budgets

ConnectedCosmos creates a third potential supplier for enterprises requiring sovereign or regionally governed satellite connectivity—particularly defense contractors, utilities, logistics operators, and public-sector agencies with critical-data custody requirements. The practical impact is concentrated in vendor-roadmap planning and concentration-risk evaluation, not near-term cost reduction.

Buyers should treat ConnectedCosmos as unavailable before 2028. Procurement teams evaluating satellite WAN or backup connectivity cannot assume service availability, pricing, or performance parity with currently operational networks. The constellation's stated differentiator is European governance and secure communications rather than disclosed cost or throughput advantages over Starlink (5,000+ operational satellites) or Eutelsat OneWeb (634 satellites as of Q3 2026).

The announcement also does not confirm that all spectrum authorizations, orbital coordination, landing rights, and national approvals required for enterprise service have been completed. ConnectedCosmos holds Liechtenstein high-priority Ka-band filings previously associated with Rivada Space Networks, providing a regulatory foundation but not proof of comprehensive commercial clearance.

Deployment risk and procurement implications

The 2028 and 2030 targets are deployment milestones, not service commitments. Enterprise buyers must account for constellation-completion risk, launch-capacity constraints (SpaceNews cited ongoing launch shortages as a constraint for Open Cosmos), spectrum coordination delays, and uncertain terminal compatibility. RFPs for satellite connectivity should require firm launch schedules, service-level agreements with financial penalties, and fallback provisions if the network misses coverage milestones.

Open Cosmos has raised €300 million in prior funding rounds but did not disclose constellation-specific capital commitments or customer contracts in the October 5 statement. Buyers cannot yet model direct WAN cost reductions or compare ConnectedCosmos economics against terrestrial fiber, MPLS, or incumbent satellite providers.

For enterprises with multi-year satellite procurement cycles, the relevant action is to add ConnectedCosmos to vendor-evaluation timelines beginning in 2028, request proof-of-service demonstrations once the 96-satellite threshold is met, and benchmark pricing and performance against Starlink Business, OneWeb enterprise plans, and SES's O3b mPOWER. Sole-source reliance on ConnectedCosmos before operational validation introduces unacceptable delivery risk.

Competitive pressure on incumbent LEO providers

The 192-satellite target intensifies competition for European and public-sector connectivity contracts where data sovereignty and non-U.S. governance matter. Starlink's dominance in LEO connectivity (over 5,000 satellites, operational since 2020) and OneWeb's established service (634 satellites, commercial service active) leave Open Cosmos with a market-entry challenge: proving that European governance justifies delayed availability and unproven network economics.

SES's O3b mPOWER (11 operational satellites in medium-Earth orbit as of mid-2026) and Eutelsat's GEO-MEO-LEO hybrid strategy already serve enterprise customers requiring low-latency, high-throughput connectivity. Open Cosmos must demonstrate measurable advantages—throughput per terminal, service uptime, pricing per gigabyte, or regulatory simplicity—to displace incumbent suppliers in competitive procurements.

What to watch

Track Open Cosmos's next launch before year-end 2026 and subsequent deployment pace through 2027. Enterprise buyers should request updates on spectrum authorization status in target markets, terminal pricing and compatibility, and contracted customer milestones. If Open Cosmos misses the 96-satellite target by Q4 2028 or fails to disclose service pricing by mid-2027, treat the constellation as speculative rather than a procurement-ready alternative.

For enterprises with critical connectivity requirements in remote or underserved regions, the relevant question is not whether ConnectedCosmos will launch, but whether it will offer measurable cost, performance, or regulatory advantages over currently operational networks. Until Open Cosmos publishes pricing, throughput data, and customer commitments, procurement teams should continue planning around Starlink, OneWeb, and incumbent GEO or MEO providers as primary suppliers.