Open Cosmos Requested Extension for Satellite Constellation
The company missed mandatory deployment milestones for spectrum filings acquired from Rivada Space Networks.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Space
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Open Cosmos has formally requested a one-year regulatory extension from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) after failing to meet required satellite deployment deadlines. The company missed the 50% fleet deployment thresholds for two spectrum filings in June and September 2026.
Why it matters
ITU regulations require operators to deploy 50% of a registered constellation's capacity to maintain priority access to spectrum. Failure to secure this extension could jeopardize the regulatory rights to the 576-satellite constellation originally filed by Rivada Space Networks.
The proposed constellation aims for 576 satellites at an orbital altitude of 1,050 kilometers. While the company holds 50 satellites in storage, it currently lacks the necessary flight cadence to meet the 50% regulatory threshold established for these filings.
The players
Open Cosmos
A satellite manufacturer specializing in modular bus architectures and software-defined payloads for orbital constellations.
International Telecommunication Union
The United Nations agency responsible for managing global radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbit allocations.
Rivada Space Networks
A satellite communications company that originally submitted the spectrum filings now held by Open Cosmos.
The details
Open Cosmos produces satellites using modular platforms, which allow for standardized manufacturing, integrated with software-defined payloads—transponders that can be reconfigured via software after launch—and optical inter-satellite links for laser-based data transfer between units. The company relies on these technologies to build out its constellation but has fallen behind the deployment schedule mandated by the ITU to maintain spectrum priority.
Timeline
June 2026: First deployment milestone deadline missed.
September 2026: Second deployment milestone deadline missed.
October 6, 2026: Open Cosmos requested ITU extension.
November 2026: ITU board will review extension request.
Late 2028: Target date for 96 satellites in orbit.
The Tech Race
The ITU's deployment milestones act as a safeguard against spectrum hoarding by forcing companies to populate their orbital slots within a set timeframe. Open Cosmos's request marks a critical attempt to retain these assets while competing against other constellations vying for orbital and frequency priority.
If the extension is granted, the company plans to launch six satellites by the end of 2026 to begin addressing the backlog. Prospective users of the network should monitor the board's November decision, as it dictates the viability of the planned 96-satellite network targeted for 2028.
The takeaway
Maintaining spectrum priority requires strict adherence to deployment schedules that are difficult to manage amid manufacturing or launch delays. Watch for the ITU board's November 2026 ruling, which will confirm whether the company can maintain its current spectrum claims.
What happens next
The ITU Radio Regulations Board is scheduled to review the extension request in November 2026.
Further reading
For more on how orbital access is managed, see our latest coverage on Space.
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