Despite Liechtenstein’s telecoms regulator rescinding its license, Rivada Space Networks remains confident it can regain priority Ka-band spectrum rights for its proposed constellation of nearly 600 broadband satellites. More than two months after the license was revoked, spokesperson Brian Carney stated on December 13th, “We continue to discuss the matter with the regulator, and we are confident that we can reach an agreement to use the Liechtenstein filings.”
The Liechtenstein’s Office for Communications (AK) withdrew its spectrum filing at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) due to “a difference of opinion about the timing of the deposit of a performance bond with the regulator,” according to Carney, who declined to elaborate. AK director Rainer Schnepfleitner similarly declined comment, citing an ongoing proceeding, but confirmed the possibility of Rivada reapplying for priority spectrum rights before mid-2026—the deadline for deploying half of its planned 576 satellites under ITU rules.
The ITU previously granted Rivada a waiver, allowing them to miss a 2023 deadline due to launch shortages and technology development challenges, issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, as noted by Schnepfleitner. Rivada, a German-based company owned by U.S. firm Rivada Networks, plans to begin satellite deployment in 2025 through a multi-launch agreement with SpaceX.
In February 2023, Rivada awarded a $2.4 billion contract to Terran Orbital (since acquired by Lockheed Martin) for the construction of 300 satellites. While Rivada remains tight-lipped about financing details, they assert that sovereign wealth funds have provided the necessary financial backing to meet their 2026 deployment commitment. They also claim over $13 billion in pricing agreements from potential enterprise and government customers for their Outernet constellation.
As an alternative, Rivada filed for additional spectrum at the ITU across Ka, Q, and V bands through Germany in November. This filing includes priority access to 400 megahertz of lower Ka-band frequencies in the Americas. Carney clarified that this German filing “is not a replacement of the Liechtenstein filings,” but offers a viable alternative if needed.
Rivada also recently established Rivada Select, a wholly U.S.-owned subsidiary to serve the needs of U.S. government and defense customers.