Britain’s space technology sector has received a major economic boost after a UK company secured one of the most sought-after satellite spectrum awards in the world, beating off international competition.
Open Cosmos, headquartered at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire, has won highly prized Ka-band radio spectrum filings after a competitive process that attracted interest from European, Chinese and American firms.
The filings were awarded by the Principality of Liechtenstein and will allow the British company to build and operate a new sovereign low Earth orbit broadband satellite constellation.
The deal is expected to deliver a significant boost to UK jobs and growth.
Speaking exclusively to GB News, Mr Rafel Jordá Siquier, founder and chief executive of Open Cosmos, said: “Open Cosmos will be rapidly expanding in the UK, creating around 200 new highly skilled jobs over the coming period.”
Mr Jordá Siquier said those roles “will span the full lifecycle of the satellites, from design and manufacturing to operations and working directly with customers to deliver this new low Earth orbit (LEO) capability”.
Recruitment is set to begin immediately, with vacancies posted on the company’s website and LinkedIn page. However, Mr Jordá Siquier said the economic impact would extend far beyond Open Cosmos itself.
He continued: “Beyond Open Cosmos itself, the programme will have a significant knock-on effect across the wider space supply chain and the broader economy, supporting suppliers, partners and service providers, which we expect will translate into thousands of additional jobs over time.”
The spectrum award is widely viewed as a strategic win for British industry at a time when many traditional sectors are under pressure.
Ka-band spectrum rights have been pursued by major global players for years, with SpaceX reportedly expressing interest at one point, according to the Financial Times.
Ka-band spectrum rights have been pursued by major global players for years
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OPENCOSMOS
Mr Jordá Siquier said securing the filings places the UK and Europe in a strong position as the sector expands.
“The global space economy is already larger than many headline tech sectors, including the AI economy, and it’s expected to grow significantly over the next decade,” he said.
Open Cosmos already provides satellite services to governments in the UK, Portugal, Greece and Spain and has maintained a 100 per cent success rate launching telecommunications, earth observation and scientific satellites for more than a decade.
Mr Jordá Siquier said the new constellation would strengthen resilience across critical sectors. “By building and managing this satellite network from the UK and Europe, we’re creating a sovereign communications platform that enterprises and governments can depend on,” he said.
Mr Jordá Siquier CEO at Open Cosmos
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OPENCOSMOS
He added that access to radio spectrum is fundamental to future growth in space-based infrastructure, noting that unlike terrestrial networks, cables cannot be laid in space, making spectrum access essential.
Space Minister Liz Lloyd welcomed the announcement as a significant milestone for Britain’s space industry. “This is fantastic news for Open Cosmos and for the UK’s thriving space sector,” she said.
“Securing these valuable spectrum filings is a testament to British ingenuity and ambition, and I’m delighted to see a UK company leading the way in building reliable satellite communications systems for the future.”
The minister highlighted the employment potential, stating the project has “the potential to create hundreds of highly skilled manufacturing and engineering jobs at their Harwell facility.”
The first two satellites in the new constellation, manufactured at Open Cosmos’s Harwell headquarters, are scheduled for launch in the first quarter of 2026
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GETTYShe added that the initiative demonstrates how the space industry is “delivering real opportunities for people across the country while cementing the UK’s position at the forefront of the global space economy.”
The first two satellites in the new constellation, manufactured at Open Cosmos’s Harwell headquarters, are scheduled for launch in the first quarter of 2026.
Rocket Lab, one of the world’s leading launch providers, is confirmed as launch partner, with lift-off scheduled from Mahia, New Zealand.
Teams across Spain, Portugal and Greece have contributed to the satellite programme alongside the Oxfordshire-based workforce.
Looking ahead, Mr Jordá Siquier said the project would establish Britain as a serious long-term participant in the global space economy.
“It means the UK, and Europe are not just using space services developed elsewhere, but helping to build, operate and export them from here, creating a more secure and self-reliant space sector for the future,” he said.