Open Cosmos wins UK contract for secure LEO

Open Cosmos has won a significant contract from the UK government to provide satellite connectivity. The British Government Commercial Agency selected the company as a certified partner for its ConnectedCosmos Low-Earth Orbit constellation on September 2.

The deal falls under the TacSys procurement framework. This framework has an estimated value of up to £8 billion and will run until June 2034. It is designed to integrate private sector technologies into Ministry of Defence capabilities for secure communications.

The ConnectedCosmos Constellation

Open Cosmos first announced the LEO constellation in January. The company received an award for Liechtenstein’s priority Ka-band spectrum filing, which was previously held by Rivada. The constellation was named ConnectedCosmos in March. Its first two satellites launched in January.

ConnectedCosmos is a multi-layer LEO architecture. It integrates IoT sensing and broadband communications into a single orbital framework. The constellation aims to combine point-to-point broadband with direct-to-device IoT capabilities.

Purpose and Government Needs

The system is intended to enable governments to detect threats in real time. It is designed to deliver space-derived intelligence directly into tactical networks and decision-making systems.

Rafel Jordà Siquier, founder and CEO of Open Cosmos, commented on the selection. "The British government recognizes the need for a modern, sovereign-controlled satellite network over the UK," he said. Siquier stated the network must deliver high-speed connectivity and secure data transfer with layered architecture for future readiness.

He added that the company has focused on building capability that directly serves government needs. "We want to meet users where they are," Siquier said. He described the selection as a stamp of approval for the company's approach.

Framework and Future Integration

The TacSys framework will serve as the vehicle for upcoming Ministry of Defence contracts. Its purpose is to integrate innovative private sector technologies into MoD-owned systems. The goal is to achieve secure and resilient communications for defence purposes.

The contract signifies the UK government's push for sovereign connectivity architecture. Open Cosmos will work as a vetted partner under this long-term framework to deliver its satellite network solution.