Optical communication tested in Chile by SSC Space

Optical communication with satellites using laser is gaining importance because it enables much faster, more secure, and higher-capacity data transfer than traditional radio-frequency (RF) systems. Laser links can deliver data at tens of gigabits per second, are harder to intercept due to their narrow beams, and help reduce congestion in the increasingly crowded RF spectrum. 

These capabilities are especially valuable as modern satellites generate ever-larger volumes of data from Earth observation, weather monitoring, surveilance, and other missions.

Swedish SSC Space has completed testing of a new optical ground station in Santiago, Chile, built under ESA’s NODES contract with support from the Swedish National Space Agency. 

Developed with Safran Space under ESA’s ScyLight programme, the station will join SSC’s optical ground network and enable two-way laser communications between satellites and Earth.

Compared with traditional RF systems, the optical link provides faster and more secure data transmission, reaching up to 10 Gbps—around ten times faster than typical RF links. This capability is particularly important for time-critical applications such as disaster response, where large satellite datasets must be delivered quickly after collection.

Despite the advantages, optical communications also face technical challenges, including sensitivity to cloud cover and atmospheric conditions, as well as the need for extremely precise pointing between satellites and ground stations. As a result, optical systems are expected to complement rather than fully replace RF communications in future satellite networks.