Rivada CEO drops some financing crumbs ahead of RRB decision

6/9/2023 - Written By Kimberly Siversen Burke

As Rivada Space Networks readies for word from the ITU’s RRB on whether its milestone waiver request will be granted (something CEO Declan Ganley is “very highly confident” they will receive), the privately held company’s elusive financing plans begin to emerge. In two recent webcasts directed at investors, Ganley outlined efforts to seek debt financing from the U.S. Ex-Im Bank for its multibillion-dollar megaconstellation. How can a Munich-based company qualify? Remember, Rivada Space is a subsidiary of US-based Rivada Networks, established post-9/11 to address the comms failure following the terrorist attack on the U.S.

During the June 7 Emerging Growth Conference, Ganley admitted the company is not yet profitable but disclosed that it has investments of “well north of $100 million and about to make an exponential jump from that point again.” 

With a $2.4-billion commitment to Terran Orbital to build its first 300 satellites and an estimated $800M launch contract with SpaceX (12 Falcon 9 launches), Rivada is going to need an Olympic high jumper also capable of valuing its 4,000 MHz of high-priority, Ka-band spectrum. 

- Late-June / Early-July 2023: Decision from RRB on Rivada’s milestone waiver request

- April 2025: First launch (Vandenberg, Falcon 9)

- TBD: Whether the space sector embraces Declan Ganley’s judicious use of the term “outernet”

SOURCE: https://spacenews.com/rivada-seeks-ex-im-financing-for-satellite-constellation/