OQ Technology secures €2.5M EIC grant to pioneer direct-to-mobile satellite
Luxembourg-based OQ Technology has received a €2.5 million grant from the European Innovation Council to develop 5NETSAT , Europe’s first direct-to-mobile satellite network. The project aims to bridge a crucial gap in global connectivity by enabling 5G IoT services without reliance on terrestrial infrastructure.
The funding marks a strategic endorsement from the EU, as Europe positions itself in the fast-emerging race to deliver satellite-to-phone connectivity. With competitors such as AST SpaceMobile and SpaceX’s Starlink gaining ground, OQ Technology offers a homegrown alternative built around Europe’s regulatory and industrial frameworks.
By focusing on IoT and low-power applications, the company is targeting a market underserved by traditional satellite operators. This approach could allow for more efficient deployment of services across sectors like logistics, agriculture and energy, especially in remote and hard-to-reach regions.
The grant provides both validation and capital at a time when space-based telecom is moving from concept to commercial rollout, with OQ aiming to carve out a European foothold in a field dominated by global giants.
Source:
A.M.
