Open Cosmos Has Requested ITU Regulatory Extension
The satellite operator seeks more time after missing key milestones for its planned 576-satellite constellation.
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) following missed deployment deadlines. The company failed to meet the required 50% fleet deployment thresholds for two spectrum filings in June and September 2026.
Why it matters
ITU regulations mandate that operators deploy at least 50% of their registered constellation capacity to maintain spectrum priority, a requirement Open Cosmos currently struggles to meet. Failure to secure this extension could jeopardize the firm's rights to use the assigned frequency bands.
The proposed constellation involves 576 satellites operating at an altitude of 1,050 kilometers, with 50 units already built and in storage. Open Cosmos now targets having 96 satellites in orbit by late 2028.
The players
Open Cosmos
This is a satellite manufacturer and operator that builds modular platforms with software-defined payloads.
International Telecommunication Union
This is the United Nations agency responsible for information and communication technologies and spectrum regulation.
Rivada Space Networks
This is a connectivity company that originally submitted the spectrum filings now held by Open Cosmos.
The details
The filings in question were originally submitted by Rivada Space Networks before being transferred to Open Cosmos. The company utilizes modular satellite platforms featuring software-defined payloads and optical inter-satellite links to manage its network development.
Timeline
June 2026 marked the first missed deployment milestone deadline.
September 2026 marked the second missed deployment milestone deadline.
October 6, 2026, is the date Open Cosmos requested the ITU extension.
November 2026 is when the ITU board will review the extension request.
Late 2028 is the target date to have 96 satellites in orbit.
The Big Picture
This situation follows the strict ITU Radio Regulations spectrum deployment requirements designed to prevent the warehousing of orbital slots. It marks a departure from typical deployment schedules, forcing a regulatory review of how operators manage their spectrum rights.
This development impacts the timeline for satellite-based connectivity services and the viability of future high-bandwidth data networks. Successful deployment of these 576 satellites could eventually enable more robust global communication coverage once the regulatory hurdles are cleared.
The takeaway
The satellite industry remains highly sensitive to regulatory compliance as companies race to populate increasingly crowded orbital paths. Operators must balance the technical speed of modular manufacturing against the rigid timeline imposed by international spectrum regulators.
Further reading
For more background on satellite network infrastructure and orbital regulation, explore the Space section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Satnews.
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