Open Cosmos steps up Europe's space sovereignty game, shows off ConnectedCosmos satellites
El Reg takes a tour of a satellite nursery for customers thinking about de-risking dependence
Open Cosmos is bolstering Europe's space sovereignty with the launch of ConnectedCosmos, a satellite constellation aimed at providing secure and resilient connectivity. Following a controversy over Ukraine's reliance on Starlink, concerns have arisen about putting all connectivity eggs in a foreign basket. Open Cosmos, a decade-old business with operations in the UK, Greece, and Portugal, launched two ConnectedCosmos satellites in January 2026.
The company plans to operate over 96 satellites by the end of 2028 and achieve full coverage by 2030. With a core connectivity backbone of 192 satellites, ConnectedCosmos offers a cost-effective solution, albeit at the expense of increased latency. The company's satellites, built with a common bus and solar panels, are stored in a 'satellite nursery' before launch.
Open Cosmos emphasizes secure, resilient connectivity for government, institutional, and commercial customers, providing a European alternative to existing services that may be influenced by foreign entities.
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