The first study phase of HydRON, the ESA project led by Thales Alenia Space, for a high-performance optical network, in which Telespazio is also participating, has been successfully completed.
HydRON (High throughput optical satellite) is a high-throughput optical space network and forms part of ESA’s ScyLight programme for secure and laser communication technology.
Laser communications are revolutionising satellite communications and ESA’s HydRON optical network will seamlessly link satellites to fiber networks on the ground, enabling reliable, instant connectivity for European citizens across the world. HydRON is a high-throughput optical space network and forms part of ESA’s ScyLight programme for secure and laser communication technology.
This first phase, HyPha Study, defined early system requirements and explored network architectures, as well as the technologies necessary for future implementation.
Subsequently, activities will be carried out to build first IOD (In-Orbit Demonstrator) flight demonstrators to test and mature space optical network solutions for satellite and terrestrial operators usage, that will be operating in the future market.
Telespazio, as Satellite Operator, will play a fundamental role in defining the system architecture, thanks to its skills and professionalism gained in decades of satellite activity.
Also, Open Fiber as the “wholesale-only” infrastructure operator, providing access and transport networks, entirely in optical fiber to more than 200 operators in Italy and Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, an academic institution with expertise in free space communication systems FSO (Free Space Optics), are part of the project.
This initiative contributes to Europe’s technological independence in connectivity services through space (Fiber in the sky / Internet beyond the Cloud(s)) and to the expansion of its capacities towards new types of services and applications (Cloud in the sky, IP Routing On-Board Satellite, extra-territorial service capacities, etc.).