What Space Norway does

Space Norway is a Norwegian satellite operator providing multi-orbit connectivity, broadcasting, and fibre services to government, defence, maritime, enterprise, subsea, and media customers across Europe, the Arctic, the Middle East, and North Africa. Its infrastructure combines the THOR GEO fleet (THOR 5, THOR 6, THOR 7, THOR 10-02), the two-satellite ASBM Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO) constellation launched in August 2024 with Northrop Grumman, subsea fibre (Euro-Fibre, Svalbard), and ground systems (Satellite Control Centre, Nittedal teleport, CAPS). The ASBM mission hosts the U.S. Space Force's EPS-R payloads, delivering secure Arctic MILSATCOM capability for the Norwegian Armed Forces, U.S. Space Force, and allied forces into the early-to-mid 2030s. The company is expanding into LEO via a Telesat Lightspeed Term Sheet (March 2025) and launched Mimir 1, its first in-house developed satellite carrying a VDES payload, in March 2026 as part of ESA's multinational VDES cooperation project.

The business is organised around three solution pillars: VSAT data services (wholesale capacity, managed VSAT, emergency preparedness satcom, maritime antennas, ASBM), broadcasting services (1° W video neighbourhoods, playout, DTH, IPTV, OTT across approximately 200 channels via the Media Excel HERO 6000 AI-enabled encoding platform), and fibre connectivity (Euro-Fibre network, Svalbard fibre). Revenue is recurring through long-term satellite capacity agreements, managed service contracts, broadcasting capacity agreements, and fibre capacity leasing. Distribution combines direct enterprise/B2G sales (Norwegian Armed Forces, U.S. Space Force, broadcasters), channel partnerships (Telenor Nordics for IPTV/OTT, Telesat for LEO), a reseller/agent network, and direct broadcasting relationships with major pay-TV operators. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, consistent with a contract-driven B2B/B2G model.

Customer concentration is anchored by two large government-defence accounts (Norwegian Armed Forces, U.S. Space Force) on the ASBM/EPS-R mission and by Viasat as a major commercial integrator, with further diversification across maritime sub-segments (fishing, merchant, offshore, yachting, passenger, naval), land/enterprise verticals (energy, transportation, aid/NGOs, government services), subsea fibre customers, and broadcaster tenants. Strategic positioning emphasises domain specialisation in Arctic and polar coverage, multi-orbit capability (with LEO integration underway), and embedding in the Nordic space ecosystem alongside Andøya Spaceport, ESA, and partners including ICEYE, KSAT, and the Swedish Space Corporation.

Name

Space Norway

Legal name

Space Norway

Website

https://spacenorway.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Space Norway is a Norwegian multi-orbit satellite operator providing GEO, HEO, and LEO connectivity, broadcasting, and fibre services to defence (Norwegian Armed Forces, U.S. Space Force), maritime, enterprise, and media sectors across Europe and the Arctic.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Satellite Communications Services

NAICS

Satellite Telecommunications (5174), Satellite Telecommunications (517410), Satellite Telecommunications (51741)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Satellite Network Operations & Capacity Services (NOC, Capacity Leasing, Managed Payload Services) (HDAIAJAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Satellite Video & Media Distribution (DTH, Contribution/Distribution, Occasional Use) (HDAIAJAG), Satellite Mobility Connectivity (Maritime, Aviation, Rail, Land Mobile) (HDAIAJAD)

Keywords

• Satellite communications services
• VSAT data services
• Arctic broadband connectivity
• Satellite broadcasting services
• Maritime satellite solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Satellite Data Services: Wholesale satellite capacity and managed VSAT data services for maritime, land, and enterprise customers. Includes connectivity solutions for government (civil and defence), commercial maritime operators, offshore energy, and enterprise customers across Europe, the Arctic, Middle East, and North Africa. Revenue is recurring through long-term capacity agreements and managed service contracts.
2. Broadcasting Services: Video neighbourhoods, playout services, DTH, OTT, and IPTV distribution for major pay-TV operators and broadcasters. Services include 1° W TV channels and updates, occasional use services, and value-added broadcasting services. Delivered to nearly 200 channels via Media Excel HERO 6000 encoding platform. Revenue is recurring through broadcasting capacity and service agreements.
3. Fibre Connectivity Services: Fibre broadband and terrestrial network services including Euro-Fibre network and Svalbard fibre connectivity for subsea and land-based sectors. Revenue generated through fibre capacity leasing and managed fibre services.
4. IPTV and OTT Streaming Services: Partnership with Telenor to deliver linear OTT and IPTV services across Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Combines Space Norway's content processing with Telenor's distribution solutions for Nordic pay-TV market.
5. Emergency Preparedness Satcom: Critical connectivity and uninterrupted emergency communication services for enterprises and government organisations.
6. Ground Services and Co-location: Co-location and hosting services at Space Norway's ground infrastructure facilities including Satellite Control Centre and Nittedal teleport.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Space Norway is a multi-orbit satellite operator providing satellite broadband, broadcasting, and fibre connectivity services to government, maritime, enterprise, subsea, and media customers. Its core offerings include wholesale satellite capacity, managed VSAT data services, emergency preparedness satcom, the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) HEO constellation, premium video distribution via the THOR GEO fleet, Euro-Fibre terrestrial networks, and Svalbard fibre connectivity.

Product overview

Space Norway operates as a multi-orbit satellite operator and connectivity platform delivering three core service lines: (1) VSAT Data Services — a platform encompassing wholesale satellite capacity, managed VSAT, emergency preparedness satcom, maritime antennas, and the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) using HEO satellites; (2) Broadcasting Services — a platform for premium video distribution including DTH, IPTV, and OTT streaming across Norway, Sweden, and Finland via the THOR GEO fleet, powered by the Media Excel HERO 6000 encoding headend; and (3) Fibre Connectivity — offering terrestrial Euro-Fibre networks and Svalbard fibre. Supporting infrastructure includes the Ground Services platform (Satellite Control Centre, Nittedal teleport), a GEO fleet of THOR satellites (THOR 5–10-02), the LEO Bridge portal for Telesat Lightspeed LEO services, miniBridge for portable connectivity, and The Bridge customer portal. Development projects include Mimir 1 (in-orbit testing lab with VDES payload), Saga (maritime domain awareness), Arctic Ocean Surveillance, and the planned THOR 8 satellite. Services serve government, maritime, land, subsea, and media sectors across Europe, the Arctic, Middle East, and North Africa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LEO Bridge: LEO satellite connectivity solution platform
• The Bridge
• miniBridge
• Saga
• Mimir

Products and services

• VSAT Data Services A comprehensive platform offering wholesale satellite capacity, managed VSAT services, emergency preparedness satcom, value-added services, VSAT platforms, and maritime antennas for maritime, land, and government customers across Europe, the Arctic, Middle East, and North Africa.
• Broadcasting Services A platform delivering TV channels and content via satellite, including video neighbourhoods, playout services, DTH, IPTV, and OTT streaming, supporting nearly 200 channels via the AI-enabled Media Excel HERO 6000 encoding headend for pay-TV operators and broadcasters.
• Fibre Connectivity A connectivity platform offering terrestrial fibre networks (Euro-Fibre) and Svalbard fibre broadband, providing high-capacity broadband connectivity for subsea and land-based applications in remote regions.
• Emergency Preparedness Satcom A satellite communication solution providing critical, uninterrupted connectivity for emergency preparedness, serving enterprises and government organisations with reliable emergency communication capabilities.
• Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) A two-satellite HEO constellation (ASBM 1 and ASBM 2) providing broadband connectivity for the Norwegian Armed Forces, U.S. Space Force (with EPS-R secure military payloads), and commercial users across the Arctic region, with ST Engineering iDirect multi-orbit technology enabling seamless orbit switching.
• Ground Services Ground infrastructure including the Satellite Control Centre, Nittedal teleport, Euro-Fibre terrestrial network, and co-location/hosting services supporting Space Norway's satellite fleet operations.
• Satellite Fleet (THOR 5, THOR 6, THOR 7, THOR 10-02) Space Norway's GEO satellite fleet comprising THOR 5, THOR 6, THOR 7, and THOR 10-02, providing broadcast and data services across Europe, the Arctic, Middle East, and North Africa.
• miniBridge A portable satellite connectivity solution enabling satellite-based broadband access for remote and mobile users, accessible via a dedicated portal.
• LEO Bridge A satellite connectivity portal providing access to Space Norway's LEO (Low Earth Orbit) connectivity services, enabling low-latency broadband for maritime, land, and government customers.
• The Bridge A customer-facing portal for managing satellite connectivity services, providing access to Space Norway's full suite of satellite solutions and account management for partners and customers.
• Mimir 1 Space Norway's first in-house developed satellite, a 93 kg LEO satellite built by OHB Sweden, operating at approximately 600 km altitude. Carries a VHF Data Exchange System (VDES) payload for maritime two-way data exchange and serves as a flexible reprogrammable in-orbit testing platform contributing to ESA's multinational VDES cooperation project.
• VDES (VHF Data Exchange System) A satellite-based two-way data exchange system enabling communication between vessels and satellites using VHF frequencies, supporting the maritime industry's transition to digital connectivity and contributing to ESA's multinational VDES cooperation project.
• Saga - No Vessel Unseen A maritime domain awareness solution providing space-based Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) for vessel surveillance and tracking, enabling comprehensive vessel monitoring across maritime zones.

Quantifiable outcome

• EPS-R on ASBM satellites prevents polar SATCOM coverage gap and extends secure military communications capability into the early-to-mid 2030s.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• OHB SwedencoreTechnology or Integration · 29 March 2026OHB Sweden built the Mimir 1 satellite for Space Norway — Space Norway's first in-house developed satellite. The 93 kg satellite carries a VDES payload and operates in LEO at approximately 600 km altitude.
• ESA (European Space Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Space Norway participates in ESA's multinational VDES cooperation project via its Mimir 1 satellite. ESA approved a €22.3 billion budget for 2026–2028, with Norway committing €292 million. Space Norway is part of the emerging Nordic space ecosystem including cooperation with companies such as ICEYE, KSAT, Space Norway, and Swedish Space Corporation, anchored by Andøya Spaceport.
• Media ExcelcoreTechnology or Integration · 14 October 2025Space Norway partnered with Media Excel to implement a new encoding headend for premium video distribution, enabling efficient delivery of nearly 200 channels. The deployment utilizes Media Excel's HERO 6000 platform featuring AI-enabled dynamic optimization for high-quality, low-latency streaming. The collaboration aims to improve service security, reliability, and operational efficiency for Space Norway's broadcasting operations.
• TelenorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 September 2025Space Norway and Telenor Nordics formed a partnership to deliver IPTV and OTT streaming services in Norway, Sweden, and Finland. The collaboration combines Space Norway's content processing with Telenor's solutions to improve digital entertainment offerings in the Nordic pay-TV market.
• TelesatcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2025Space Norway and Telesat signed a Term Sheet for Telesat's Lightspeed Low Earth Orbit connectivity services, which Space Norway plans to integrate into its service portfolio. The multi-Gbps capacity pool with committed information rates and SLAs will provide secure, low-latency connectivity for defence, enterprise, maritime, and land customers across the Arctic and EMEA region. Definitive agreements were expected by H2 2025.
• Northrop GrummancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 August 2024Northrop Grumman provided the GEOStar-3 satellite bus, military payloads including Space Force's EPS-R for secure Arctic communications, and the CAPS ground system for the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM). Space Norway collaborated with Northrop Grumman across locations in Norway, Alaska, and California on payload integration, cybersecurity, and ground system installation for the ASBM constellation launched August 11, 2024.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• SES: SES is a leading global GEO/MEF satellite operator with deep video neighbourhood and enterprise data businesses. Comparable to Space Norway across its THOR GEO broadcasting fleet and managed data services, though operating at much larger global scale.
• Eutelsat: Eutelsat (with the OneWeb LEO merger) is a major European-headquartered GEO+LEO operator, strongly comparable to Space Norway's broadcasting, data, and now LEO integration strategy — and a direct regional competitor across Europe and EMEA.
• Iridium Communications: Iridium operates a global LEO network focused on mobile satellite services, including maritime, aviation, and government/defense. Comparable to Space Norway's mobility and government segments, with overlapping maritime and Arctic/defense use cases.
• Intelsat: Intelsat operates a global GEO fleet serving media, broadband, and government/defense customers. Overlaps with Space Norway's broadcasting and government satellite service offerings, particularly across the EMEA video neighbourhood space.
• Inmarsat (Viasat): Inmarsat, now part of Viasat, is a global mobile satellite services operator with strong maritime and aviation VSAT offerings. Highly comparable to Space Norway's maritime and mobility satellite data services, and Viasat is already a named commercial user of Space Norway's ASBM Arctic broadband.

Regional players

• Swedish Space Corporation (SSC): Swedish Space Corporation is a Nordic state-owned satellite operator and ground services provider, part of the same Nordic/ESA ecosystem as Space Norway. Comparable across ground services, satellite operations, and government/defense Nordic customer relationships.

Direct peers

• Hisdesat: Hisdesat is a Spanish government-linked satellite operator providing secure communications and Earth observation. Comparable niche peer to Space Norway's government/defense and Arctic SATCOM role, with a similar mix of sovereign demand and partnership-driven capabilities.
• Telesat: Telesat operates the Lightspeed LEO constellation and geostationary capacity. Directly relevant as Space Norway's partner for LEO integration into its portfolio across Arctic and EMEA — a peer on broadcast/maritime connectivity and counterparty on LEO capacity supply.
• Norsat International (Hytera): Norsat (now part of Hytera) provides portable and maritime satellite terminals and communications solutions. Closely comparable to Space Norway's miniBridge portable connectivity and maritime VSAT terminal offerings, particularly for government and remote-area use cases.

Others

• Cobham SATCOM (Eagle Penguin / Ultra Maritime): Cobham SATCOM (now part of Ultra Maritime / an Advent portfolio company) is a major supplier of maritime VSAT antennas and satellite terminals. Adjacent/ecosystem participant to Space Norway's maritime VSAT services — relevant as a technology partner and channel for maritime end users.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCfN99pg6a8WH4nedU3E3Bjw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/space-norway

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Space Norway