March 25, 2025
Optical & Quantum Communications – ScyLight
Safety & Security quick links
Our programme aims to address the development, demonstration and utilisation of innovative optical and quantum technologies for satellite communications.
Market Fit
It’s expected that there will be rapid growth in the optical and quantum communications domain over the next decade.
Optical and quantum technologies will revolutionise connectivity on a global scale. They will boost the performance, security and resilience of our satellites exponentially, and help us safeguard our data at levels which previously were inconceivable.
Through the programme, ESA kick-starts the development of these disruptive technologies, supports the industry with research, initiates studies, plans pilots, and defines critical technology roadmaps. It is driven by the worldwide evolution towards global, digital networks moving vast amounts of data around the world.
Optical and Quantum Communications – Scylight bundles and strengthens Europe’s diverse, early-stage and increasingly advanced activities in the satellite communications market segment and intends to bring these emerging technologies and businesses to maturity and commercial fruition as quickly as possible.
The programme line focuses on the development of optical inter-satellite links, space-to-ground links, airborne optical terminals, optical ground stations and photonics for super-performant optical up- and downlinks.
€5,399 million
Global market value that quantum communications is expected to reach by 2030.
€46 billion
Global market value optical communications expected to reach by 2032.
Optical & Quantum Communications activities and partnerships projects
ScyLight
ScyLight
High-Throughput Optical Network
HydRON
The High thRoughput Optical Network (HydRON) project aims to demonstrate the world’s first all-optical, multi-orbit transport network at terabit/sec capacity, extending terrestrial fibre-based networks seamlessly into space. It will be key to supporting the next generation of institutional and commercial telecommunication missions.
Security And cryptoGrAphic
SAGA
The Security And cryptoGrAphic (SAGA) mission is the space-based component of the European Commission’s EuroQCI, and will work with ground infrastructures to boast pan-European reach. It will provide secure keys for Europe from space. It consists of satellite quantum communication systems that make use of quantum key distribution for secure connectivity. It will become one of the pillars of Europe’s cybersecurity strategy.
Quantum key distribution system
Eagle-1
Eagle-1 will boost European autonomy in cybersecurity and communications. It will be the first space-based quantum key distribution (QKD) system to be developed under a partnership between ESA, the European Commission and European space companies predominantly from Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland and led by Luxembourg operator SES.
International Use cases for Operational QKD
INT-UQKD
INT-UQKD aims to demonstrate operational quantumsafe communications at global scale. Combining terrestrial fibreoptic and spacebased quantumkeydistribution (QKD) links, complemented by postquantum cryptography (PQC), the project’s ambition is to protect critical infrastructure and regulated sectors across Europe, Asia and beyond. INT-UQKD will pilot demonstrations between Luxembourg, Belgium and Singapore, utilising the SpeQtre and SpeQtral1 satellites for longdistance quantum key exchange, while aligning with the EU’s digital sovereignty goals.
European Quantum Communication Infrastructure
EuroQCI
The European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI) is an ambitious, strategic initiative of the European Commission, in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA), which is designed to build a secure quantum-communication network across the European Union, providing a framework for highly resilient communications for governments, critical infrastructure, defence and industry. EuroQCI involves 27 European Union Member States and will serve as a part of IRIS2.
3-8
TRL level
€250,000 to €10-99 million
Max funding
What Ideas are we looking for?
For the best chance of success in securing funding via the Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) programme and provided all other conditions are met, submissions for the Optical & Quantum Communications – ScyLight programme line should address one or more of the following categories:
Optical and quantum technologies that are disruptive with a high degree of innovation.
New business models that will emerge due to the new paradigm imposed by optical and quantum communication concepts. Concepts that offer cutting-edge solutions that can be developed with private and public operators.
Industry support to help build and extend the knowledge base of industry.
End-to-end system demonstrations displaying industry capabilities and to prepare competitiveness in the field though a high-throughput optical network in space (HydRON) and quantum key distribution from space (SAGA).
RELATED NEWS
RELATED LINKS & CONTACS
CONTACT
Harald Mathias Hauschildt
ESA’s European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC)
Keplerlaan 1
2201 AZ Noordwijk, The Netherlands
+31 (0)7156 58257
Harald.Hauschildt@esa.int
