Helsinki based Finnish space startup, ReOrbit, has raised $48.3 million (€45 million) in Series A funding to expand its sovereign satellite technology, giving Europe an alternative to a number of Starlink satellites in low earth orbit.
As countries become less interested in dependence on foreign infrastructure for vital services, ReOrbit’s offers an affordable and autonomous satellites networks solution that comes in the right time.
The Finnish startup is taking off among countries looking for satellite internet like Starlink, but without the dependence on external forces.
SpaceX EchoStar Spectrum Battle Leads to Acquisition
Demand for SpaceX’s Starlink is increasing, recently closing a $17 billion deal to buy wireless spectrum licenses from EchoStar. The deal is intended to give Starlink’s new 5G connectivity business a boost and take advantage of increasing demand for low earth orbit satellite internet.
The acquisition also follows months of regulatory oversight. The US Federal Communications Commission objected to the use of EchoStar’s satellite spectrum as well as its move to resolve Starlink internet service disruptions in underserved communities with the purchase, Starlink plans to launch upgraded satellites with laser links, increasing their network capacity by over 100 times.
With Starlink area coverage now in thousands of regions across the globe, competition is increasing, especially in Europe.
Is There a Competitor to Starlink in the EU?
Unlike SpaceX, which operates and owns all parts of the Starlink network, ReOrbit offers a different model. It lets governments own the hardware and software, ensuring full control over data and infrastructure. Its flagship software layer, which CEO Sethu Saveda Suvanam compares to Apple’s iOS, runs both geostationary and low Earth orbit satellites.
This kind of flexibility is important, especially for countries exploring better alternatives to Starlink internet booster hardware for performance gaps. The company’s approach is ideal for regions seeking a high-performance, secure, and autonomous solution.
The Helsinki-based firm recently signed a “a full contract worth some hundreds of millions” with one nation, and multiple memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with others. While already sustainable without outside investment, ReOrbit raised funds to grow faster.
“We are targeting €1 billion in order books,” Saveda Suvanam said, who would like to create ReOrbit as sales unicorn within four years.
The company’s latest milestone is also a pointer that Starlink internet speed test in Europe is maybe no longer the only benchmark. Governments are now more appreciative of control, security, and Starlink internet reliability over the long run, areas in which Starlink has attracted praise as well as criticism.
Meanwhile, reviews on Starlink internet show disproportionate satisfaction, making it possible for new startups like ReOrbit to pick up steam. With funding from leading Nordic investors and favorable regulation in Finland, ReOrbit now leads EU satellite constellation Starlink competitor rival space.
Their Next Step?
A demonstration satellite with the European Space Agency, flying in the second quarter of 2026, offering yet another option for countries looking beyond the constellation of a number of Starlink satellites that dominate today’s orbit.
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