Lumino to lead ESA NG-OGS Accelerator Project to Advance Technologies for Scalable Optical Ground Station Networks
Lumino Technologies has been awarded a European Space Agency contract to develop technologies for a new generation of low-cost, mass-producible, networked optical ground stations (OGS) that will enable large scale satellite quantum and optical communications networks.
Lumino specialises in free-space optical and quantum communications technologies, developing scalable infrastructure for next-generation satellite networks. Lumino is joined in project delivery by Honeywell Aerospace’s UK team, Wideblue and RAL Space.
Optical ground stations form the critical bridge between satellites and terrestrial networks. Increasing their availability through affordable, geographically distributed deployments will improve network resilience, increase satellite contact opportunities and reduce weather-related disruption while supporting future optical and quantum communications services. Today, this is limited by the high cost, long lead times and complex installation of current ground station designs.
The NG-OGS ("Next-Generation Quantum & Optical Ground Stations") Accelerator project, is being delivered under the European Space Agency's ARTES 4.0 programme (Optical Communications – ScyLight line), with support from the UK Space Agency. The project will mature critical technologies to ensure future ground stations can be produced at industrial scale and widely deployed in dispersed networks; establish a full product design; and verify performance through controlled range trials. This is essential to keeping pace with growing demand for high-speed, secure satellite communications as well as enabling long-range quantum communications.
Omar Iqbal, CEO of Lumino Technologies, said, "NG-OGS Accelerator tackles the cost and scale barriers standing in the way of widespread quantum and optical ground network infrastructure. This project will develop and trial crucial new approaches to overcoming the space-to-ground optical and quantum communications bottleneck. We are appreciative of ESA and the UKSA’s support in making this programme of work a reality.”
Henny Sands, Head of Satellite Communications at the UK Space Agency, said, “The NG-OGS Accelerator highlights the strength of UK innovation in tackling future communications challenges. By developing affordable, scalable optical ground stations, this project will help drive economic growth, strengthen national security and resilience, and reinforce the UK's leadership in next-generation space communications."
Juan Rivera, the Project Technical Officer at ESA, said, "The next generation of optical ground stations will establish a modular, and cost-effective infrastructure for scalable deployment of optical and quantum communication capabilities. With the support of the UK Space Agency (UKSA) and the European Space Agency (ESA), Lumino and its partners aim at developing a product that will help realise this vision - lowering barriers to adoption and expanding global access to high-capacity optical space communications."
Lisa Napolitano, vice president and general manager for Space at Honeywell Aerospace, said, “The NG-OGS Accelerator marks a significant step forward for satellite communications in the UK and beyond. We are proud to collaborate on the project and to provide our expertise on the transceiver technology. The transceiver is a key part of how we connect satellites with ground stations. It makes it possible to turn laser signals from space into signals that can travel through optical fibre, and then into radio signals for everyday use. By meeting international standards, it means our technology can work with a range of different systems and equipment, helping everything to operate smoothly together.”
Note: The NG-OGS Accelerator project is undertaken under a programme and funded by the European Space Agency. Please note that the content of this news article can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Space Agency.
