- ReOrbit received €4.6 million from Business Finland to launch OrbitCloud, a private satellite network that runs AI inference directly in space.
- The programme is expected to exceed €40 million in total value and targets military and industrial users who need communication systems that do not rely on ground infrastructure.
- This funding follows ReOrbit’s signing of a €150 million GEO satellite contract in March 2026. The company is aiming for €1 billion in sales over the next four years.
Most satellites rely on ground stations for data processing and relay, which can slow response times and create a single point of failure. ReOrbit, a Finnish satellite maker, is building a network to remove this reliance.
Today, Business Finland awarded ReOrbit €4.6 million to speed up the project.
Sethu Saveda Suvanam founded ReOrbit in 2019 after noticing that traditional satellite systems were too rigid, hardware-focused, and far behind in software engineering. Based in Helsinki, the company has about 80-90 employees and plans to grow to 200-250 by the end of 2026.
OrbitCloud, now starting its first funded R&D phase, aims to combine direct-to-device satellite connections with AI inference running entirely in space.
What OrbitCloud does
OrbitCloud links drones and handheld devices directly to satellites using 3GPP Non-Terrestrial Network standards, which also support regular mobile networks. This allows operators in remote or low-infrastructure areas to get live data without needing ground stations.
The AI feature makes OrbitCloud different from other satellite connectivity options. Instead of sending raw data to Earth for processing, ReOrbit’s satellites handle inference on board using processors connected by fast intersatellite links. Tasks are shared for reliability, so if one satellite fails, others can take over. When fully deployed, this system sends processed information straight to drones or mobile devices without the data ever reaching the ground.
“By combining Direct-to-Device connectivity with orbital AI inference, we are creating a space-based edge computing network that puts real-time intelligence directly in the hands of operators — without reliance on terrestrial infrastructure,” Suvanam says.
Why €4.6 million is only the beginning
The Business Finland grant covers only the first phase of a programme expected to exceed €40 million. ReOrbit will need more funding to complete OrbitCloud and is moving quickly.
In March 2026, the company signed a €150 million deal with asset-financing firm SLI for two new small GEO satellites, with the first delivery planned for 2029. This deal proved ReOrbit’s hardware capabilities and gave it the credibility to pursue a larger system.
Suvanam said the company’s potential orders add up to “many billions” of euros, with several contracts expected to close soon. The bigger goal is €1 billion in sales within four years, and OrbitCloud’s orbital AI is key to reaching that target.
Kimmo Kanto, director for space, defence and connectivity at Business Finland, framed the €4.6 million grant as a deliberate act of shared risk.
“A key role of Business Finland is to enable ambitious initiatives by sharing risk with companies and accelerating investment in new technologies. Companies like ReOrbit build telecommunications capabilities that are critical to Finland, strengthening our global competitiveness and laying the foundation for new growth sectors,” he says.
In the direct-to-device satellite market, ReOrbit competes with AST SpaceMobile, Lynk Global, and Sateliot, all of which offer low Earth orbit links for regular mobile devices. AST SpaceMobile, the best-funded, raised $400 million in a 2024 public offering and started commercial service in the US. Lynk Global and Sateliot focus on emerging markets and Internet of Things connections.
None of them currently combine D2D connectivity with onboard AI inference, which is key to OrbitCloud. If ReOrbit succeeds at scale, it will stand out. If not, it will face strong competition from established players.
The grant funds the first R&D phase, focusing on growing the direct-to-device and onboard AI systems. Whether ReOrbit can move from this initial funding to a programme over €40 million, deliver on its €150 million GEO contract, and double its staff will shape its path in the next two years.
If successful, orbital AI could become real infrastructure instead of just an idea.
