SES, a global leader in space-based communications, and K2 Space, a next-generation space technology company, announced a strategic partnership to advance the development of SES’s future medium Earth orbit (MEO) network. The collaboration brings together SES’s decades of expertise in operating global multi-orbit constellations, including its pioneering O3b mPOWER MEO system, with K2 Space’s agile engineering capabilities to co-develop future-ready infrastructure and technologies.
Driving Innovation Through Agile Development
Earlier this year, SES and K2 Space began joint development activities aimed at validating new network technologies tailored for both commercial and sovereign government applications. The initiative will culminate in an on-orbit mission in Q1 2026, serving as the first step toward deploying SES’s next-generation MEO constellation.
This approach reflects a paradigm shift in satellite development—moving away from traditional waterfall models toward an iterative, agile process that fosters continuous innovation and faster responsiveness to market needs.
Executive Perspectives
“Our future MEO network will evolve through agile innovation cycles,” said Adel Al-Saleh, CEO of SES. “By collaborating with K2 Space and other trusted innovative partners, we’re combining our solutions development experience and operational depth with NewSpace agility to develop a flexible, software-defined network that adapts to customer requirements.”
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“This collaboration is about rethinking how advanced space networks are developed,” said Karan Kunjur, CEO of K2 Space. “SES brings extensive operational expertise, and we bring the speed and flexibility of a technology startup. Together, we’re building the foundation for a network that is scalable and adaptable to a broad range of applications.”
Building the Future of MEO Connectivity
Development activities will span both Europe and the United States, leveraging the combined strengths of SES and K2 Space to shorten development timelines and accelerate the delivery of high-value network services.
As part of SES’s long-term MEO strategy, the initiative emphasizes:
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Modular growth to enable rapid scalability
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Open architecture for interoperability and flexibility
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Software-defined networking for dynamic adaptation
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Support for multi-mission capabilities, including hosted payloads, direct-to-device connectivity, space situational awareness, sovereign services, mobility applications, and resilient enterprise backhaul.
By pairing SES’s operational heritage with K2 Space’s startup-driven agility, the collaboration aims to deliver a future-proof MEO network designed to meet the evolving demands of governments, enterprises, and mobility providers worldwide.