Outernet
Planned network of 600 low Earth orbit satellites joined by lasers, built to carry secure data between any two points on Earth for governments, telecoms and large companies.
Why it matters
Most satellite internet systems hand traffic down to ground stations and onto terrestrial fiber. Rivada's design keeps data in space from end to end, which it pitches as more secure and harder to disrupt. The company claims over $20 billion of lined-up business, but has not yet launched satellites.
How the technology works
Each satellite is meant to act as both an access point and a network node. Inter-satellite laser links form an optical mesh with pole-to-pole coverage, so data hops between satellites until it reaches the satellite above its destination.
The company says the network needs no terrestrial gateways.
Sources
Updated Oct 22, 2026 · How we source facts · Suggest a correction