Company: Rapid.Space
Interviewee: Jean-Paul Smets, CEO
Website: https://www.rapid.space/
Empowering Connectivity Through Open Source and Ethical Design
In a telecommunications landscape dominated by proprietary systems, backdoors, and opaque standards, Rapid.Space is forging a radically different path. Based on the principles of openness, transparency, and privacy, this European company provides a powerful alternative model that challenges assumptions about the appearance and control of mobile infrastructure. Jean-Paul Smets, Rapid.Space CEO, reflects on the broader ecosystem and points to the EU’s reversal on NGA funding, a policy shift that moved support away from open innovators and back toward legacy telecom operators. “It’s frustrating. But it reinforces our belief that independent infrastructure must be built from the ground up.”
At the center of Rapid.Space’s work is the Open Radio Station, a compact, open-source 5G base station that is light enough to carry, powerful enough to cover up to ten kilometers, and flexible enough to be produced anywhere in the world. This plug-and-play solution is packed into a 2.4-kilogram box and supports local energy options, local production, and global accessibility. But the Open Radio Station is more than a product; it’s a statement that 5G can be open, ethical, and user-controlled.
No Backdoors, No Surveillance: Privacy by Design
For Rapid.Space, privacy is not just a feature—it’s the foundation. The company has intentionally designed its products without backdoors. This uncompromising stance on transparency and user sovereignty has made the technology illegal in some jurisdictions where authorities demand surveillance access. However, for CEO Jean-Paul Smets, this is a price worth paying to stay true to the company’s values.
“People are free to study how our products work,” Smets explains. Every component and line of code is available for inspection, adaptation, and local deployment. This ethos extends to education as well: Rapid.Space runs a Tech Academy, develops extensive tutorials, and teaches at universities, including Télécom Paris, one of France’s top engineering schools.
Open Source Meets Real-World Usability
Although the technology is complex, the model is simple: business-to-business deployment with full transparency. Rapid.Space works with intermediaries who manage client relationships, gather feedback, and adapt open-source systems to meet specific needs. This structure enables Rapid.Space to remain lean while supporting a partner ecosystem across industries and borders.
Feedback loops are built into the business model. “We know our product is working when we see connections. If people are using it, that tells us everything,” says Smets. For Rapid.Space, usage is the most important metric—not just for growth, but also for relevance.
“We know our product is working when we see connections. If people are using it, that tells us everything.”
Engineering for Simplicity and Sustainability
Rapid.Space incorporates sustainability through design. Rather than chasing trends or constantly rebuilding, the team prioritizes generic, reusable components and minimalist architecture. Developers regularly monitor server energy consumption, and any feature that increases power demand must be offset by optimizations elsewhere.
A recent innovation, the Galen video streaming system, embodies this ethos. Built for low energy consumption and maximum privacy, it aligns with the company’s commitment to ethical technology that performs efficiently and respects the environment.
Resisting the Gravity of Big Tech
Operating as a small, values-driven player in a space crowded by industry giants comes with challenges. Smets notes that regulatory systems across Europe are becoming increasingly burdensome for independent developers. “It’s hard to survive when the rules are written for companies that can afford legal teams and compliance departments.”
This reality has prompted a difficult decision: shifting some development operations to Asia, where regulatory pressure is lower, even if ethical standards aren’t as well-established. Smets describes this move as disappointing yet necessary to remain competitive and sustainable.
“It’s hard to survive when the rules are written for companies that can afford legal teams and compliance departments.”
Collaboration Rooted in Action, Not Committees
Rapid.Space maintains a wide range of partnerships with public research institutes, government defense agencies, and academic institutions. According to Smets, what makes these partnerships successful is practicality. “It’s not about ten people writing reports. It’s about two people doing the work.”
This pragmatism extends to the company’s advice for new startups. Ethical tech must be backed by actionable structures and real-world incentives. Without them, noble goals remain unfulfilled.
A Different Vision of Telecom’s Future:
Rapid.Space isn’t trying to play catch-up with conventional telecom companies. Instead, Rapid.Space is trying to redefine what telecom can be: open, user-driven, and decentralized. Smets candidly acknowledges the challenges, especially in markets where ethical values are misunderstood or dismissed. “In many places, people just don’t understand why we do what we do. It seems absurd to them.”
Yet, the company remains convinced that the future belongs to open, transparent infrastructure. As concerns about data privacy, foreign surveillance, and digital sovereignty rise, the demand for trust-based telecom alternatives will only grow.
