Founded in 2016, Luxembourg-based OQ Technology is at the forefront of delivering global 5G Internet of Things (IoT) and Direct-to-Device connectivity via a constellation of small satellites. Founder and CEO Omar Qaise shares the journey behind this trailblazing venture.
From a young age, space captivated the imagination of Omar Qaise. Whether it was the dream of becoming an astronaut or the desire to contribute to the vast frontier beyond Earth, that early fascination became a lifelong pursuit. This passion guided him from his native roots to Germany, where he studied telecommunications and aerospace engineering, laying the groundwork for what would become a distinguished career in the space sector.
Omar’s professional journey began in 2007 at the German Aerospace Center, where he contributed to satellite and atmospheric missions that deepened his technical expertise. This was followed by a role at EUMETSAT, where he worked on advanced weather satellite programmes—critical tools for climate monitoring and forecasting. He later contributed to pioneering deep space missions such as Herschel and Planck for the European Space Agency, exploring the farthest reaches of the cosmos.
In 2013, he joined SES in Luxembourg, where he played a key role in developing the medium Earth orbit constellation O3b. This experience marked a turning point, offering a firsthand view into the commercial side of space and sparking the idea that would lead to the founding of his own venture.
By 2016, he established OQ Technology with a clear vision: to harness the power of satellite connectivity to advance 5G and beyond. As the global space industry reaches a critical inflection point, he sees Luxembourg uniquely positioned—with its infrastructure, talent, and ambition—to lead in satellite communications. OQ Technology is more than a startup; it represents a growing European capability, one that blends commercial scalability with strategic sovereignty. With operational services already in place, the company is inviting commercial and government partners to join them—particularly in shaping a sovereign direct-to-device low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation for Europe.
Now, let's hear directly from Omar himself as he shares his thoughts in our one-on-one interview!
Q: What value does your platform bring to sectors like agriculture, environmental monitoring, and emergency services?
In disaster scenarios, terrestrial cellular networks often fail. Our satellites can provide a reliable fallback communication system, essential for coordinating emergency response.
We also enable secure communications for critical infrastructure, allowing direct satellite links to mobile devices without relying on local networks, which is ideal for security-sensitive missions.
In agriculture and environmental monitoring, our system can combine sensor data with satellite imagery for precision insights. For example, a leak alert on a pipeline can be cross-checked with satellite imagery before dispatching a team, saving time and resources.
Q: What is the potential of your technology for UAVs and drones?
Currently, drones rely on ground-based antennas, which are unreliable in remote areas or complex terrain. By connecting drones directly to our satellites, we enable non-centralised, long-range control.
We recently completed a successful demo with Airbus, achieving 99.995% reliable connectivity during aerial maneuvers in difficult to reach terrain. It was the world's first 5G NTN test using a LEO satellite from Luxembourg. This technology has major implications for European defence, security, and industry.
Q: Will OQ Technology eventually serve everyday mobile users?
We don't serve consumers directly. Instead, we partner with mobile network operators, enabling seamless terrestrial-to-satellite transitions. This hybrid model will remain dominant in the near term.
That said, the line between terrestrial and satellite mobile may blur further. We are building the foundation now, and in the future, we see 6G over satellite as the natural evolution.
OQ Technology: Pioneering 5G IoT Connectivity from Space
"OQ Technology is revolutionising connectivity by bringing 5G IoT from space to Earth. Using satellites as cell towers, it bridges coverage gaps in remote areas with affordable, scalable solutions." Founder and CEO Omar Qaise explains.
Q: What inspired you to launch OQ Technology, and why focus on 5G IoT via satellite?
As the NewSpace movement gained momentum, the cost of accessing space dropped significantly. The miniaturisation of satellites and the advent of reusable launchers like SpaceX changed the game. Private companies could now afford to enter a market previously dominated by governments and defence.
I saw a major gap in telecom: remote and underserved areas lacked reliable coverage. Traditional satellite solutions were expensive and fragmented. Meanwhile, terrestrial mobile networks thrived thanks to global standards like 3GPP — the backbone of GSM, 3G, 4G, and 5G.
I asked myself: why don’t we apply those same cellular 3GPP standards to space? That insight became the foundation of OQ Technology.
Q: How does OQ Technology serve remote areas lacking in reliable coverage?
We decided to build satellites that function as cell towers in the sky, using standard 3GPP protocols. This enables immediate interoperability with billions of existing cellular devices, especially those designed for IoT applications.
To keep costs low, we launched with small CubeSats in low Earth orbit (LEO), using rideshare missions from SpaceX and other providers. From the start, our goal was to build an end-to-end system that is both scalable and affordable.
The idea gained strong traction with both the Luxembourg government and major industries like oil and gas. They immediately saw the potential, and that early support helped validate and accelerate our growth.
Q: How has the industry responded to OQ’s vision?
We were talking about cellular over satellite back in 2016. Our early patents date to 2018 and 2022. Fast forward to today, and 3GPP has officially endorsed the integration of 5G with satellite networks.
Big players like Starlink are now beta-testing smartphone connectivity. Meanwhile, OQ Technology remains the only European company actively leading this space. We’re proposing solutions like cellular messaging via satellite smartphones and emergency broadcast, which we’re developing under MACSAT 2.0, a project funded by the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA) and managed by the European Space Agency (ESA).
Q: What makes the OQ ONE modem unique?
Our OQ ONE terminal is a complete 5G non-terrestrial network (NTN) device. It uses off-the-shelf cellular modules (LTE, NB-IoT, 5G), which are then satellite-enabled through our technology.
For industries like oil, gas, energy, and agriculture, we offer an end-to-end solution: sensors, connectivity, dashboard, and analytics. The OQ ONE can connect to various sensors — tracking location, humidity, temperature, leak detection, flow metering and more.
We also use licensed, standardised spectrum, which allows us to support any compatible NTN module globally. This level of flexibility and interoperability makes our solution attractive to customers across sectors.
Q: So, OQ offers more than just hardware?
Exactly. We provide full-stack solutions and secure private NTN networks depending on the client's needs.
For enterprise customers, we provide devices, connectivity, private networks, dashboards, and analytics — a full ecosystem that integrates with their infrastructure.
For logistics or fleet companies, they may only need connectivity and will use their own backend systems.
This modular approach allows us to serve diverse verticals while maintaining high standards of performance and reliability.
Q: How has the Luxembourg Space Agency supported your growth?
When I first pitched the concept, I was amazed at how receptive Luxembourg’s Ministry of the Economy was. Through LuxImpulse, we received funding for a feasibility study that helped us identify the right technology and market.
From there, we built our prototype, launched our first satellite testing mission in 2019, and continued scaling. The LSA facilitated connections with local partners and supported our entry into European programmes. Their early support helped us build capacity and take on ESA contracts.
Their role in de-risking early-stage R&D has been essential, allowing us to transition to commercial readiness while continuing to innovate.
Q: Where does OQ Technology fit into Luxembourg’s broader space strategy?
Luxembourg already has a global success story in SES with respect to GEO/MEO broadband satellite communication. We believe OQ Technology can be the next chapter, leading the emerging market of D2D cellular over LEO satellite.
With our headquarters, IP, and operations based in Luxembourg, and 80% of our supply chain sourced from Europe, we are strategically positioned. Cellular over satellite is often called the "holy grail" of satellite communications, and Luxembourg has the ecosystem, from R&D to manufacturing to downstream services, to support this.
Q: Where have you expanded globally, and why?
Our biggest markets are in the Middle East and Africa, where industries operate in remote regions. We've also established a presence in Asia and Australia, where we saw strong early adoption, particularly in mining and energy.
We're entering South America as well. However, our headquarters, IP, and technology development remain rooted in Luxembourg. Local presence is often needed to maintain spectrum licenses and meet national security requirements.
Q: Can you share more about your fundraising journey?
We were selected by the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator, competing with 4,000 deep tech companies. Only four space companies were chosen, and we were the first from Luxembourg.
We received a €2.5 million grant plus up to €15 million in equity, pending matching funds. We're now in the process of closing our Series B round to unlock that equity and further scale our constellation.
Q: How have the EIC Scaling Club and the Cassini Accelerator supported your go-to-market strategy?
The EIC Scaling Club has provided valuable mentoring and direct access to VCs and industry experts. It has helped refine our go-to-market approach and opened doors to new partnerships.
Through the Cassini Accelerator, our team has gained practical insights into market development, funding, and space-specific challenges. These networks are critical as we scale.
Q: What does your satellite deployment roadmap look like?
Our plan is to deploy 82 satellites in total, divided into two phases. Once Series B is closed, we will launch the first batch to significantly expand our coverage and support new applications.
The second phase will target low-latency use cases like autonomous drones. We already have agreements in place for launch and ground segment support. Most of our supply chain is European, and we aim to execute within a year of funding.
We’re also expanding spectrum licensing globally — a crucial step for operational readiness.
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For more information about OQ Technology and its satellite IoT services, visit: oqtec.space
Stay tuned if you want to read more success stories from the Luxembourg space industry!
