Aspiring LEO satellite player Rivada Space Networks announced that it has signed new deals enabling it to launch its "Outernet" services in Costa Rica and the Czech Republic.
The latest deals – which also include Belgium, and Sweden – bring the total number of markets where Rivada has secured market access for its Outernet service to 33.
That includes numerous developing markets such as Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Egypt, as well as much of the Americas.
Rivada also said the agreements it’s signed with nations, governments, and corporations so far are worth more than US$16 billion.
The Outernet is planned as a constellation of 600 LEO satellites that use optical lasers to interconnect with each other and carry onboard processing for routing and switching.
Rivada has pitched this as a more secure LEO satellite option for enterprise and government users, as the constellation creates the equivalent of an optical mesh router architecture that’s physically separated from terrestrial networks.
Rivada has yet to launch any satellites – its initial plan to launch the first test satellites this year has been pushed back to 2026. After tests are completed, Rivada aims to start launching the actual satellites in 2027, with commercial services starting in late 2027, according to Space News.
Rivada’s chief regulatory officer Ann Vandenbroucke said the number of market access agreements signed so far is a vote of confidence from investors and distributors that the Outernet constellation is on the way.
“Market access processes can take time to negotiate, and we greatly appreciate the regulators who have officially endorsed and supported the planned rollout of the Outernet,” she said in a statement.
