Rivada Networks
Rivada Networks is a privately held US wireless communications company that operates federal tactical communications contracts and is building the Outernet, a planned 600-satellite LEO constellation, alongside ROAM, a blockchain-powered marketplace for trading wireless connectivity as a commodity. It serves US government agencies and targets enterprise, telecom, maritime, and energy buyers globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Rivada Networks does
Rivada Networks is a privately held US-headquartered wireless communications company founded in 2005 by Declan Ganley after Hurricane Katrina to deliver interoperable tactical communications to government and first-responder customers. It has operated for roughly two decades as a prime contractor through the Rivada Port Graham Solutions (RPGS) joint venture on the US Department of Homeland Security's TacCom program, providing VHF/UHF radio maintenance at 140+ Customs and Border Protection sites and supporting 225+ disaster-response deployments for agencies including DHS, CBP, FEMA, the Federal Protective Service, the National Guard Bureau, and the Department of Justice.
In 2024 Rivada pivoted its strategy toward a global space-and-spectrum platform built around two new products: the Outernet, a planned 600-satellite gateway-less LEO constellation with intersatellite laser links delivering pole-to-pole coverage and fiber-grade latency, and ROAM (Rivada Open Access Market), a blockchain-powered marketplace developed with EY-Parthenon that enables trading of wireless connectivity as a commodity via patented Dynamic Spectrum Arbitrage technology. The company targets government, enterprise telecom, maritime, and energy buyers with a Connectivity-as-a-Service model that supports advance, spot, and real-time bandwidth purchasing.
Rivada generates the bulk of its current revenue from legacy US federal tactical communications services under multi-year prime contracts, while future revenue is expected to come from Outernet subscription connectivity (recurring), ROAM transaction and platform fees, and usage-based Dynamic Spectrum Arbitrage. Go-to-market is direct enterprise and government sales, supplemented by terrestrial-operator channel partnerships and a dedicated capital markets function structured to finance the satellite buildout. The company operates offices in Washington DC, Galway (Ireland), and Munich (Germany, via Rivada Space Networks GmbH), with notable recent setbacks including the revocation of its Liechtenstein Ka-band spectrum rights and ongoing pursuit of German-licensed spectrum.
Rivada Networks firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rivada Networks
- Legal name
- Rivada Networks
- Website
- https://rivada.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Rivada Networks is a privately held US wireless communications company that operates federal tactical communications contracts and is building the Outernet, a planned 600-satellite LEO constellation, alongside ROAM, a blockchain-powered marketplace for trading wireless connectivity as a commodity. It serves US government agencies and targets enterprise, telecom, maritime, and energy buyers globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rivada Networks industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Satellite Connectivity and Wireless Communications
- NAICS
- Satellite Telecommunications (5174), Satellite Telecommunications (517410)
- SIC
- Communications Services, Nec (4899), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Non-Terrestrial Mobile Network Operators (Satellite-Integrated NTN Mobile) (HDAIAAAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Network Backbone & Core IP Transport (Long-Haul/Metro IP) (HDAIAFAG), Optical/Transport Network Management (OTN/WDM Controllers) (HDAFAGAK)
Keywords
Where Rivada Networks is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Rivada Networks business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Satellite Connectivity Services: Providing secure orbital network access with pole-to-pole reach to telecom, enterprise, maritime, energy, and government markets. Delivers fiber-grade latency and ultra-secure global data network.
- ROAM Marketplace Trading: Blockchain-powered platform enabling bandwidth trading. Operators monetize excess capacity; enterprises purchase bandwidth. Revenue from transaction facilitation and platform fees.
- Spectrum Arbitrage Services: Dynamic Spectrum Arbitrage technology enabling real-time bandwidth purchasing. Connectivity available to buy a year ahead, a month ahead, or in real time.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Custom enterprise and government pricing based on capacity needs and service requirements |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Rivada Networks product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rivada Networks designs, integrates, and operates wireless communications infrastructure comprising the Outernet, a 600-satellite gateway-less LEO constellation with intersatellite laser links providing pole-to-pole coverage and fiber-grade latency. It also operates ROAM, a blockchain-powered open-access marketplace that enables operators and enterprises to trade wireless connectivity as a commodity, underpinned by its patented Dynamic Spectrum Arbitrage technology for real-time spectrum allocation and Connectivity-as-a-Service delivery.
Product overview
Rivada Networks offers a two-part product portfolio: the Outernet (a 600-satellite LEO constellation with intersatellite laser links providing pole-to-pole coverage and fiber-grade latency) and ROAM (a blockchain-powered marketplace platform for trading wireless connectivity as a tradeable commodity). These are complemented by patented Dynamic Spectrum Arbitrage technology enabling spectrum sharing and real-time bandwidth transactions. The Outernet serves enterprise, government, telecom, maritime, and energy sectors requiring secure connectivity in remote areas, while ROAM enables network operators to monetize excess capacity.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Outernet: Rivada's gateway-less LEO satellite network with intersatellite lasers, pole-to-pole coverage, and fiber-grade latency for enterprise and government customers.
- ROAM (Rivada Open Access Market)
Products and services
- Outernet LEO Satellite Network A gateway-less 600-satellite LEO constellation using intersatellite laser links to provide pole-to-pole coverage with fiber-grade latency. The Outernet serves as a self-contained optical backbone in space, delivering ultra-secure and highly reliable global data connectivity for telecom, enterprise, maritime, energy, and government services markets.
- ROAM (Rivada Open Access Market) A blockchain-powered marketplace platform enabling the trading of wireless connectivity as a tradable commodity. ROAM allows network operators to monetize excess capacity and enterprises to purchase affordable bandwidth, with connectivity purchasable a year ahead, a month ahead, or in real time. Developed in collaboration with EY-Parthenon and currently in beta.
Quantifiable outcome
- 225+ deployments over 5 years including disaster responses
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Rivada Networks
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Rivada Networks technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Rivada Networks partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- EY-ParthenoncoreStrategic consulting engagement to design the ROAM blockchain-powered marketplace platform. EY-Parthenon, led by Igor Mikhalev, helped bring the vision of a wireless connectivity trading marketplace to life.
- Rivada Port Graham Solutions (RPGS)coreJoint venture entity that serves as prime contractor for DHS on the TacCom contract. Provides tactical communications solutions to federal government including disaster response.
- ManiilaqminorPartnership to rapidly and thoroughly support communication needs of Department of Justice users in the field, particularly in the Pacific Northwest.
- Terrestrial Network OperatorscorePartnership with terrestrial operators to unlock idle wholesale capacity and turn underutilized spectrum into dynamic markets that boost ROI and network efficiency.
- Liechtenstein Spectrum AuthorityRivada's spectrum rights were revoked by Liechtenstein, which reassigned Ka-band spectrum to Open Cosmos. Rivada is pursuing alternative German-licensed spectrum under its Outernet-1 filing.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Rivada Networks competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Eutelsat OneWeb: OneWeb (now part of Eutelsat Group) operates an LEO constellation serving enterprise, government, and maritime customers with global connectivity. Closely comparable to Rivada's Outernet in target markets, use cases, and multi-orbit coverage story.
- Telesat: Telesat is building the Lightspeed LEO constellation aimed at enterprise, telecom, and government markets. Highly comparable to Rivada's Outernet in architecture (optical inter-satellite links), customer focus (sovereign and enterprise connectivity), and B2G/government-channel go-to-market.
- SpaceX Starlink: SpaceX's Starlink is the dominant LEO broadband constellation and is the most direct competitor to Rivada's Outernet — both target enterprise, government, and maritime buyers with low-latency global satellite connectivity and have signed defense and federal customers.
- Amazon Project Kuiper: Amazon's planned LEO broadband constellation targeting enterprise, government, and consumer broadband. Directly comparable to Rivada's Outernet on coverage ambitions, customer segments, and the multi-billion-dollar capex profile of deploying a large LEO fleet.
Emerging players
- AST SpaceMobile: AST SpaceMobile is building a space-based cellular broadband network for direct-to-device connectivity, sharing Rivada's customer interest in communications for governments, maritime, and remote enterprise, but focused on phone-form-factor integration.
- Lynk Global: Lynk Global is an emerging direct-to-device satellite operator targeting connectivity for remote areas, government, and MNOs. Adjacent to Rivada's Outernet, with overlap in 'connectivity where terrestrial networks don't reach' messaging and government/enterprise use cases.
Broad incumbents
- Iridium Communications: Iridium operates a global L-band satellite network serving defense, maritime, aviation, and IoT customers. It is a broader incumbent in satellite voice/data communications and shares Rivada's enterprise-and-government customer base, though with legacy non-broadband capacity.
- Viasat: Viasat provides satellite broadband and managed connectivity to government, defense, and enterprise customers via GEO and hybrid constellations. Comparable as an incumbent competitor in secured, multi-domain connectivity that Rivada targets with its Outernet.
- Globalstar: Globalstar provides satellite voice, data, and IoT services including through its partnership with Apple for emergency SOS. Comparable as an incumbent satellite services provider with similar defense, enterprise, and remote-connectivity customer profiles.
- EchoStar Corporation: EchoStar operates Hughes Network Systems and a fleet of GEO satellites delivering consumer, enterprise, and government broadband. Comparable to Rivada as a broader incumbent offering managed satellite connectivity across enterprise, government, and telecom segments.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Rivada Networks social profiles
Digital presenceRivada Networks financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rivada Networks leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Rivada Networks subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Rivada Networks funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rivada Networks M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Rivada Networks
What does Rivada Networks do?
Rivada Networks designs, integrates, and operates wireless communications infrastructure comprising the Outernet, a 600-satellite gateway-less LEO constellation with intersatellite laser links providing pole-to-pole coverage and fiber-grade latency. It also operates ROAM, a blockchain-powered open-access marketplace that enables operators and enterprises to trade wireless connectivity as a commodity, underpinned by its patented Dynamic Spectrum Arbitrage technology for real-time spectrum allocation and Connectivity-as-a-Service delivery.
Is Rivada Networks a public or private company?
Rivada Networks is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Rivada Networks founded?
Rivada Networks was founded in 2005. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Rivada Networks based?
Rivada Networks is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Rivada Networks make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Satellite Connectivity Services are the primary driver. The others are ROAM Marketplace Trading and spectrum Arbitrage Services.
Who are Rivada Networks's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Eutelsat OneWeb, Telesat, SpaceX Starlink and Amazon Project Kuiper. Emerging players are AST SpaceMobile and Lynk Global. Broad incumbents are Iridium Communications, Viasat, Globalstar and EchoStar Corporation.
Does Rivada Networks have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rivada Networks.
What industry is Rivada Networks in?
Rivada Networks's product category is Satellite Connectivity and Wireless Communications. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAIAAAJ, Non-Terrestrial Mobile Network Operators (Satellite-Integrated NTN Mobile), with a secondary code of HDAIAFAG, Network Backbone & Core IP Transport (Long-Haul/Metro IP). Its NAICS code is 5174 and its SIC code is 4899.