ARTES 4.0 Optical and Quantum Communications - ScyLight
The Optical and Quantum Communications - ScyLight is an ESA strategic programme line dedicated to optical communications, photonics and quantum communication. Forming part of the Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES), the programme that supports technology developments in satellite communications, seeking to keep European and Canadian industry at the leading edge of the global market.
ScyLight aims to address the development, demonstration and utilisation of innovative optical and quantum technologies for satellite communication. By supporting industry to develop and extend its manufacturing capabilities, it helps prepare stakeholders to seize related market opportunities.
Optical & Quantum Communications: We are the laboratory, we are the incubator, we are the enabler of Europe’s future in space.
ESA Optical & Quantum Comms |
HydRON: Fibre in the Sky |
What is ESA's Optical and Quantum Communications?
Optical and quantum technologies will revolutionise connectivity on a global scale. They will boost the performance, security and resilience of our satellites exponentially, and help us safeguard our data at levels which previously were inconceivable.
ESA`s strategic programme line Space for Optical & Quantum Communications, also known as 'ScyLight’, kickstarts the development of these disruptive technologies, supports the industry with research, initiates studies, plans pilots, and defines critical technology roadmaps. It is driven by the worldwide evolution towards global, digital networks moving vast amounts of data around the world.
ScyLight bundles and strengthens Europe’s diverse, early-stage and increasingly advanced activities in the satcom market segment and intends to bring these emerging technologies and businesses to maturity and commercial fruition as quickly as possible.
The ScyLight programme line focuses on the development of optical inter satellite links, space to ground links, airborne optical terminals, optical ground stations and photonics for super-performant optical up- and downlinks.
The ScyLight name stands for ‘SeCure and Laser communication Technology'
Objectives of ScyLight
The objectives of ScyLight are to:
- Address the development, demonstration, and utilisation of innovative optical technologies for satellite communication as well as preparing for new market opportunities.
- To support industry to develop/extend its manufacturing capabilities and seize related market opportunities.
In pursuit of these high-level objectives, ESA performs system studies, market analyses, initiates developments of critical technologies defined in the ScyLight workplan and ESA maintains an “always open call” to provide support to activities initiated by industry on their own ideas and developments plans.
ESA organises regular workshops with industrial stakeholders to foster cooperation and to inform about recent developments and trends in the field of optical communications.
What projects are we looking for?
For the best chance of success in securing funding via the ARTES 4.0 programme and provided all other conditions are met, submissions for the Optical and Quantum Communications programme line should be in line with the following specific requirements:
- Optical and quantum technologies that are disruptive with a high degree of innovation.
- Industry support to help build and extend the knowledge base of industry.
- New business models that will emerge due to the new paradigm imposed by optical and quantum communication concepts.
- End-to-end system demonstrations displaying industry capabilities and to prepare competitiveness in the field though a high throughput optical network in space (Hydron) and quantum key distribution from space (SAGA).
Key projects under ScyLight
High-Throughput Optical Network (HydRON)
ScyLight is the home for designing and demonstrating the elements of an “Internet beyond the Clouds" system – the world first High Throughput Optical Network, called HydRON, aiming for Terabit throughput interconnecting space assets to seamlessly integrate them with terrestrial fibre networks.
SAGA
The space-based component of the new European Commission (DG-Connect) quantum communication infrastructure is known as SAGA (Security And cryptoGrAphic mission) and will be developed under ESA’s responsibility. It consists of satellite quantum communication systems with pan-European reach.
How to work with ESA ScyLight
Please refer to the 'How to work with us’ page to learn of the options to work with ESA on ground-breaking optical and quantum communication projects under the ARTES 4.0 programme.
Please note that for outline proposals, the templates provided should be used and submitted to ScyLight@esa.int
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact us at ScyLight@esa.int
Related Links
HydRON - High Throughput Optical Network System
Overview ESA Initiated Optical & Quantum Activities ESA-STAR Feb 2024
NEWS AND EVENTS
ESA and Japan’s Space Compass Corporation partner to pioneer next-generation optical…
ESA, in partnership with Japanese company, Space Compass Corporation, has signed a Memorandum of Intent (MoI) to jointly conduct the feasibility study for Japan’s LAIDEN project and ESA’s High Throughput Optical Network…
ESA and Austria host world-leading quantum minds to drive space-based quantum information networks…
The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) jointly hosted a workshop to address the challenges and opportunities in the interconnection of quantum networks, for example, through future scalable quantum…
The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed a contract with Thales Alenia Space to develop Element #2 of the High-throughput Digital and Optical Network (HydRON) project, marking a significant step forward in space-based optical communications.
ESA supports Estonia’s first industry-led optical communication satellite
ESA is bringing together Hungarian and Estonian space expertise, which will see the development and launch of Estonia’s first commercial satellite.
ESA-Kepler Communications partnership signals start of development phase of HydRON’s LEO ring…
The role of optical communication in space missions continues to gain importance with ESA’s multi-orbit High-throughput Optical Network in Space (HydRON) project, which aims to demonstrate European and Canadian technological maturity as well as…
European Space Agency-funded projects reach new performance level in groundwork for optical…
Telecommunications equipment company, TESAT, and fibre-optic technology leader, MPB Communications, successfully demonstrated a 100 Gigabit per second (Gbps) data at 40 Watts (W) optical output power over a distance of…
In-orbit optical downlink demonstration paves the way for laser satellite communications
A European consortium, primed by Airbus Netherlands (NL), has demonstrated a world-first 9 Gbit/s class, optical downlink from geostationary orbit. Through ESA’s Consolidation of Refinement of Optical Link Architectures…
European space firms set specifications for optical links
Sending vast quantities of data between satellites speedily and securely means using light to communicate. Now a group of space companies, research centres and universities working with ESA has established a series of specifications on how…
ESA-backed TNO consortium establishes first robust optical datalink
A consortium of European industry, led by Dutch firm TNO and backed by the European Space Agency (ESA), has successfully established the world’s first robust optical datalink using real-world conditions in field tests held in the Netherlands.
5th Annual ScyLight Conference points to a bright future for optical and quantum communication
More than 150 attendees including national delegations, industrial representatives of ESA member states, ESA staff members and academic researchers met in Bonn this week for the 5th ScyLight Workshop. This was the first time the event was able to…
ScyLight Industry Day - France
The “Fourth Industrial Revolution” comes with an increasing pace of development and digitalisation, driven - and enabled by vast amounts of data. Already today, the limitations of conventional networks impact the deployment and end user service…