Backnang, 30 April 2024 - TESAT and MPB Communications took an important milestone to a new performance level of optical LEO to GEO data relays: The companies successfully demonstrated a 100 Gigabit per second (Gbps) data transmission at 40 W optical output power over a distance of more than 45,000 km in a laboratory environment at MPB Communications' optical labs in Montreal, Canada.

Until now, low-earth orbit (LEO) to geostationary orbit (GEO) optical links of the European Data Relay Service (EDRS) achieve data rates of 1.8 Gbps at 2.2 W with multiple links per day in orbit. The 100 Gigabit of data transferred in one second at this new performance level is equivalent to around 300 hours of music streaming.

TESAT and MPB Communications demonstrated the simulation with 40 W (46 dBm) single mode optical output power at 1536.61 and 1553.33 nm. This is an important step in regards to the development of TESAT´s SCOT135 Optical Communication Terminal (OCT) for different Multi-Orbit Connectivity scenarios enabled by MPB Communications' 40 W high power optical amplifier. This new setup allows the SCOT135 OCT to perform ultra-high data rate optical links over a distance of more than 45,000 km and in GEO to GEO up to 80,000 km.

TESAT´s product approach enables a customization of the SCOT family to customer needs like link-distances that require different output power levels as demonstrated by the collaboration with MPB Communications.

This technological achievement has been supported by ESA contracts 4000140073/22/UK/ND and 4000136553/22/NL/FGL, implemented under ESA’s Optical & Quantum Communications - ScyLight Strategic Programme Line, which forms part of the Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) programme within the Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications.

ABOUT TESAT

TESAT supplies the key components for satellite communications that are utilized from telecommunications through navigation and climate/earth observation to science. The product range spans from the smallest space-specific components to modules, entire assemblies or payloads. More than half of all communication satellites in orbit have TESAT equipment on board. It is being developed, assembled, integrated and tested by around 1,100 employees in Backnang, Germany and in Merritt Island, Florida. TESAT is the first company that has been delivering products and systems for optical communications via laser in space. As the leading manufacturer in its field, the company helps to sustainably connect the world and make it a better place to live for everyone.

ABOUT MPB Communications

Privately held since 1977, MPBC has been a leading manufacturer and supplier of innovative, high-performance fiber laser and fiber amplifier subsystems for the space, industrial, research, defense and telecommunications sectors. We pride ourselves in providing our customers with tailored products and solutions which ultimately enhance overall system performance and customer satisfaction. Relying on our heritage from the telecommunications sector, MPBC provides state-of-the-art and cost-effective optical amplifier solutions for space and ground stations designed to meet the most stringent mission requirements, which allows data to be transmitted faster between Earth and space. At MPBC we design, develop and manufacture all our optical solutions in our facilities in Montréal, Canada. Learn more about MPB Communications at www.mpbcommunications.com.

ABOUT THE EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY

The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe’s gateway to space.

ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.

ESA has 22 Member States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia are Associate Members.

ESA has established formal cooperation with four Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.

By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with Eumetsat for the development of meteorological missions. Learn more about ESA at www.esa.int.

MEDIA CONTACT
Tesat-Spacecom GmbH & Co. KG
Gerberstraße 49
D-71522 Backnang

Andreas Schramm
Marketing & Communications Manager
+49 7191 930 - 2451
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Victoria-Louisa Kirstein
Head of Communications & Marketing
+49 7191 930 - 1039
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