Why the Netherlands invests in Laser Satellite Communications

The Netherlands will invest in the development of laser satellite communication in the coming years. Why? Why now? And what does laser satellite communication have to offer us in the future? Four Dutch companies provide answers.

© ESA What is laser satellite communication?
On Earth we use communications satellites in space every day. For example, for live television, telephony, internet, military applications and emergency aid after a natural disaster. Currently, communications satellites 'talk' to each other and to the ground via radio frequencies. Just like any mobile phone.

Because we communicate with each other more and more often, radio frequencies are becoming saturated. That is why we need a new communication medium with more capacity: light. Laser communications satellites work much the same as conventional communications satellites. Only they use laser light instead of radio frequencies.

What are the advantages of laser satellite communication?

More capacity. 'Light waves are more than a thousand times shorter than radio waves. This means you can send more than a thousand times more information in the same time," says Sytze Kampen, head of technology at Airbus Netherlands. “You are then talking about a data speed of terabits per second, instead of the gigabits we have now.”

Lower costs. Sending optical signals can be done with equipment that is considerably smaller, lighter and more energy efficient than the instruments we use for radio communication. Once this technology is further developed, the costs for satellite communication per gigabyte will decrease.

“For us, it's about one thing: more capacity at lower costs,” says Francesca Del Monaco, director of optical communications at Viasat. 'Laser satellite communications allows us to receive more information using fewer ground stations and therefore at lower costs. That is why we encourage the development of this technology.'

© ESA Safety. Radio communication is like a shot of buckshot. The transmitted signal not only ends up on a dish receiver, but also in the wider area around that dish. Laser light has a much smaller 'beam'. This makes it more difficult to intercept and eavesdrop. Light communication also has the advantage that you can secure it with quantum keys. If someone manages to listen in on the signal, both the sender and the receiver are immediately aware of this.

No licensing system. Radio signals can easily interfere with each other. Therefore, the use of radio frequencies is highly regulated. In the Netherlands, the National Digital Infrastructure Inspectorate auctions permits for radio frequencies. For example, that of the 5G network. With light communication you hardly have this problem. As a result, a permit system is not yet necessary.

How will the world around us change if we have laser satellite communication?
For some applications, not much changes. We communicate as we do now, but instead of radio frequencies we use light. This makes communication faster, cheaper and more efficient.

But laser satellite communications also enable new applications, says Tushar Goyal, space products sales manager for AAC Hyperion. 'Consider, for example, self-driving cars and trucks. Or broadband internet on board aircraft. And with laser satellite communication, our soldiers can count on the safest form of communication when they are on deployment.'

Laser satellite communication is also important for space travel itself. Earth observation satellites send more and more valuable data to Earth. Data that we use for weather forecasts, climate research, air quality monitoring and much more,” says Gus van der Feltz, senior business developer at FSO Instruments. “To get ever-increasing amounts of satellite data to Earth, we desperately need the capacity of laser satellite communications.”

What is the biggest challenge in developing laser satellite communications technology?
The biggest challenge is with satellites in low Earth orbits. With laser satellite communication, at least one transmitter/receiver is constantly moving. After all: a satellite orbits the Earth at high speed. Does this satellite communicate with a ship, plane or truck? Then there is movement on both sides of the laser beam.

“It's like driving on the highway between The Hague and Delft and then trying to hit the mirror of a car on a dirt road in the Austrian Alps with a laser pointer,” says Sytze Kampen of Airbus. “To maintain the connection between two moving objects, you need the most advanced optical technology, mechanics and electronics.”

What role does the Netherlands play in this technology development?
The Netherlands has a rich history in optical technology, mechanics and electronics, abbreviated to optomechatronics. Consider, for example, the development of atmospheric satellite instruments, parts for (space) telescopes and the semiconductor industry. We build on this expertise and experience when developing laser satellite communications.

Gus van der Feltz of FSO Instruments: 'The technology required for laser communication was and is largely developed by the knowledge institution TNO. VDL and Demcon have jointly founded the company FSO Instruments to market part of this technology. We already make products in the VDL factory in Almelo. We work together with our suppliers on efficient production of small and larger series.'

Geanimeerde weergave van HemiCAT Laser Communication Terminal in satelliet geïntegreerd © TNO

VDL produces, among other things, a small transmitter receiver from AAC Hyperion. The first experimental copy, the CubeCAT, is now in space and is working as expected. Its successor, the HemiCAT, is expanded with a self-aligning laser.

'We focus on the market for small satellites in low earth orbit. The first commercial orders have now been received,' says Tushar Goyal of AAC Hyperion. 'Together with FSO Instruments we will produce hundreds of terminals. In the meantime, we continue to improve the design.'

Airbus Netherlands focuses on a different part of the market. The company develops the technology for ground stations and mobile terminals for ships, aircraft and trucks. 'The market for this is still nascent at the moment. But we are confident that that market will come and that it will grow rapidly thereafter. We therefore want to be and remain a leader in the field of ground stations and mobile terminals. Our focus for the future is on this.'

Why is now the time to invest in the development of laser satellite technology?
Francesca Del Monaco of Viasat sees the demand for optical communications developing worldwide. Its customers ask about the possibilities of laser satellite communication and governments also want to work with it. “This is the time to develop products and services,” said Monaco, “otherwise you will be too late.”

The Dutch government recognizes this momentum and supports the development of laser satellite communications technology. This is done, among other things, through the NSO and NXTGEN Hightech and with a large subsidy from the National Growth Fund.

Sytze Kampen of Airbus: 'It is important for Dutch parties to continue to work together in this long-term development program. The knowledge and experience is not contained in one organization, but in an entire chain of knowledge institutions and manufacturing companies. Only together can we efficiently produce laser communication technology of the highest quality. And because laser satellite communications is a fast-growing global market, we can all benefit from it.”