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OQ Technology
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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OQ Technology is a Luxembourg-based satellite telecommunications company that develops and operates 5G Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) infrastructure to provide Internet of Things (IoT) and direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity.[1] The company operates a constellation of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites designed to extend cellular coverage to remote and underserved areas using standardized 3GPP narrowband-IoT (NB-IoT) technology.[2]
Founded in 2016 by Omar Qaise, OQ Technology is headquartered in Luxembourg and maintains offices in several regions, including the Middle East, Africa, and Australia.[3] Its network combines terrestrial and satellite links to provide global machine-to-machine (M2M) and IoT communication services across sectors such as energy, logistics, and agriculture.[4]
The company collaborates with international partners and participates in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) to contribute to the development of 5G NTN standards.[5] Through its commercial satellite launches and ongoing expansion, OQ Technology is among the early operators implementing satellite-based cellular connectivity for IoT applications.[6]
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History
2016 – Foundation OQ Technology was founded in 2016 by Omar Qaise in Luxembourg with the aim of developing a nanosatellite constellation using standardized cellular protocols such as NB-IoT to provide global IoT connectivity.[7]
2018 – ESA Demonstration Consortium In 2018, OQ Technology partnered with EmTroniX and GomSpace under the Luxembourg national space program LuxIMPULSE and the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop an in-orbit demonstration of satellite-based IoT connectivity.[8]
2019–2020 – TIGER-1 mission Between 2019 and 2020, OQ Technology collaborated with GomSpace on the TIGER-1 mission using 6U nanosatellites (GOMX-4A and GOMX-4B). The project performed 26 in-orbit NB-IoT experiments to demonstrate two-way satellite communication with standard cellular devices.[9]
2021 – MACSAT pathfinder and 5G license In 2021, the company signed a LuxIMPULSE contract for the MACSAT in-orbit pathfinder mission, including development of a 6U nanosatellite and 5G-IoT user equipment.[10] OQ Technology also obtained a national 5G frequency test license and established the first European 5G Satellite Test Lab in Leudelange.[11] In April 2021, OQ signed a launch agreement with Spaceflight Inc. for its first batch of satellites.[12]
2022 – Series A and launch preparation In 2022, OQ completed its Series A funding round of approximately €13 million and announced the launch date of the MACSAT mission for March 2023.[13]
2023 – Space license and first commercial contract In March 2023, the Government of Luxembourg granted OQ Technology an official Space Activity License, allowing it to operate and register satellites under Luxembourg law.[14] Later that year, OQ signed its first commercial contract valued at €1 million with an oil and gas company to provide 5G-IoT connectivity via satellite.[15]
2024 – Series B convertible investment In October 2024, OQ Technology secured a convertible loan investment as part of its Series B round. Investors included Luxembourg Space Sector Development Fund (SES and the Luxembourg government), Waed Ventures (Aramco), and Phaistos Investment Fund (Greece).[16][17]
2025 – EIC funding and 5NETSAT mission In early 2025, OQ Technology was selected for the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator programme, receiving €2.5 million in grant funding and up to €15 million in equity to support its direct-to-mobile satellite projects.[18] In mid-2025, the company launched the 5NETSAT project, Europe’s first direct-to-mobile satellite mission enabling smartphone messaging via satellite using 5G NTN standards.[19] In October 2025, OQ expanded operations to Australia with “OQ Technology Australia”, based in Sydney, focusing on agricultural, mining, and utilities IoT connectivity. At that time, OQ reported operating ten satellites in orbit.[20]
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Operations and technology
OQ Technology designs and operates a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) nanosatellite constellation that provides cellular Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity using standardized 3GPP narrowband-IoT (NB-IoT) and 5G Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) protocols.[6] The company’s technology allows compatible terrestrial IoT devices to connect directly to satellites without requiring custom hardware or proprietary waveforms.[21]
OQ Technology develops user terminals, modems, and firmware supporting satellite IoT communications, along with a cloud-based service platform for device management, telemetry, and data analytics.[22] Its services are used in industrial applications including energy, logistics, maritime operations, smart agriculture, and environmental monitoring.[4]
In 2021, OQ Technology established a European 5G Satellite Test Lab in Luxembourg after obtaining a national test license for 5G NTN frequency bands.[23] The lab supports hardware and waveform testing for both LEO and ground-based 5G systems.
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Partnerships and memberships
OQ Technology is a corporate member of the GSM Association (GSMA) and participates in initiatives related to satellite-enabled 5G IoT connectivity.[24] The company was selected for the Cassini Business Accelerator, a European Commission programme supporting NewSpace startups developing commercial satellite solutions.[25]
In 2025, OQ Technology announced a partnership with KPN to explore satellite-backed 5G IoT connectivity, integrating non-terrestrial network technology into terrestrial cellular infrastructure.[26] Other collaborations include projects with GomSpace, EmTroniX, and Luxembourg Space Agency under the national LuxIMPULSE and European Space Agency (ESA) programmes.[6]
Funding
OQ Technology has raised several investment rounds to expand its satellite constellation and global operations. In 2022, it completed a €13 million Series A round led by international space and telecommunications investors.[27]
In 2024, the company secured a convertible investment as part of its Series B round, backed by the Luxembourg Space Sector Development fund (LSSD), Wa’ed Ventures (Aramco’s venture capital arm), and Phaistos Investment Fund (Greece).[28]
In 2025, OQ Technology received funding from the European Innovation Council Accelerator programme, including a €2.5 million grant and up to €15 million in equity investment, to support its direct-to-mobile satellite communications technology and global scale-up.[5]
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See also
References
External links
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