TILBA®-OGS is a turnkey optical ground station developed by Cailabs, enabling bidirectional satellite-to-ground optical communication at 10+ Gbps. It integrates key building blocks derived from Cailabs’ patented MPLC (Multi-Plane Light Conversion) technology. TILBA®-OGS includes building blocks, TILBA®-ATMO and TILBA®-IBC to mitigate atmospheric turbulence on Rx and Tx side.
Optical Ground Stations (OGS)
Deploy, operate and scale high-throughput laser communication links enabling operational space connectivity with infrastructure designed for real-world conditions
From demonstration to operational infrastructure
An Optical Ground Station is not just a terminal, it is a long-term operational asset. Cailabs’ OGS are delivered, integrated into ground networks, and operated as part of active missions. They ensure reliable performance over time, beyond one-off demonstrations.
To go further, explore our buyer’s guide on what makes an Optical Ground Station truly operational.
A trusted supplier of operational Optical Ground Stations
Cailabs is an industrial supplier delivering Optical Ground Stations designed for field-proven deployment. By combining system design, manufacturing and field deployment capabilities, Cailabs enables the development of scalable and reliable optical ground infrastructures.
With multiple stations already deployed worldwide, ongoing installations, and a growing production capacity, Cailabs enables the rollout of operational optical networks.
Production capacity is scaling from 12 OGS per year today to 50 OGS per year by 2028 with Factory 2027.
They trust us
TILBA®-OGS L10
A turnkey Optical Ground Station designed for operational deployment.
TILBA®-OGS L10 integrates all critical functions required to establish, operate and maintain optical links within existing ground networks, enabling high-throughput bidirectional communications with LEO satellites at 10+ Gbps.
Leveraging Cailabs’ patented Multi-Plane Light Conversion (MPLC) technology, it incorporates non-mechanical turbulence mitigation systems designed to ensure stable and reliable link performance. Designed for continuous operations, it seamlessly integrates into existing infrastructures and supports demanding mission scenarios.
Cailabs operates one of the first optical ground stations capable of 10+ Gbps laser communications with low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites
Keraunos project
Confirming its leadership in ground receiving solutions, the Agence de l’Innovation de Défense (AID) of the French Ministry for Armed Forces has engaged Cailabs to collaborate on the Keraunos project. The aim of the project is to establish and operate an end-to-end optical link, starting from the satellite terminal onboard a nano-satellite – designed and launched into low orbit in 2023 by Unseenlabs – all the way to the ground. Cailabs has successfully designed, manufactured and operates its pilot optical ground station from its location in Rennes, marking a significant milestone in the Keraunos project and in the company’s growth. This achievement places Cailabs among the first European private companies to own and operate an optical ground station, enabling it to experiment with receiving satellite data through optical telecommunications.
FAQ
An Optical Ground Station integrates advanced optical, electronic, and control subsystems that enable precise and reliable laser communication operations:
✓ Pointing, Acquisition & Tracking (PAT): ensures accurate alignment with moving satellites for stable optical links.
✓ Beacon and laser uplink: provides reference and transmission signals for satellite tracking and communication.
✓ Weather and turbulence monitoring: continuously analyzes atmospheric conditions to optimize link performance.
✓ Turbulence mitigation modules: TILBA®-ATMO (Rx) and TILBA®-IBC (Tx) compensate for atmospheric distortion using MPLC-based passive beam shaping.
✓ Data Communication (COM): manages optical signal modulation, demodulation, and high-speed data exchange.
✓ Monitor & Control Management (MCM): supervises system health, telemetry, and network coordination.
✓ Infrastructure: includes the dome, power, and environmental systems ensuring stable and secure operation.
An optical ground station can handle all types of data transmitted between space and ground segments, depending on the mission and network configuration. This includes scientific and Earth observation data, high-throughput communication traffic, command and telemetry signals, or secure and encrypted governmental and defense information. In essence, any form of digital data that can be modulated onto an optical carrier can transit through an optical ground station.
Case Studies
TILBA®-OGS: An optical ground station for turbulence-free 10+Gbps Low Earth Orbit (LEO) laser communication
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The downlink is carrying data to be transmitted to the OGS from the satellite. The communication beam received by the OGS telescope undergoes optical transport and correction, particularly through TILBA®-ATMO, effectively eliminating the impact of atmospheric turbulence on the beam. Subsequently, the signal is detected by the modem and sent for transmission via the terrestrial optical network.
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The beacon designates a laser emission system designed to illuminate the moving satellite, facilitating pointing and acquisition during the initial handshake phase before communication starts, and in the event of signal loss requiring a new handshake.
The laser communication uplink is carrying data to be transmitted to the satellite from the OGS. Upon reception from the terrestrial network, it undergoes processing by TILBA®-IBC in the shelter to enhance its range and robustness against atmospheric turbulence.
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This sub system includes the telescope, mount, and tracking intelligence, allowing precise satellite tracking and alignment. The Pointing and Tracking operate during the initial handshake phase before data communication starts and also in the event of signal loss, requiring a new handshake. During the acquisition phase, satellite data is received through the telescope and conveyed to communication systems along the optical injection system.
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The OGS subsystems are distributed between the dome and the shelter. The dome houses the emission and the Pointing, Acquisition & Tracking subsystems. It is remotely controllable and equipped with an emergency closure system linked to the dedicated weather station located in the shelter. The infrastructure is tailored to geographical and local specificities.
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The weather station monitors key parameters such as wind, humidity, temperature, and rain to protect the sensitive equipment of the OGS. The dome is equipped with an automatic closing system in case of rain or adverse weather conditions. The turbulence monitoring helps to check link availability and estimate the expected performance, particularly in terms of throughput.
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TILBA®-ATMO is technological building block that mitigates atmospheric turbulence Rx by decomposing the perturbed wavefront into a limited number of modes and coherently recombining them into a single-mode fiber. TILBA-IBC is a technological building block that mitigates atmospheric turbulence Tx through incoherent combining. Both are based on our unique patented Multi-Plane Light Conversion (MPLC) technology.
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Monitoring and control refers to the software that drives the OGS, orchestrating all operations and enabling interfacing with the client. This subsystem is comparable to the brain of the OGS. The client interface allows for scheduling communication passes with satellites and monitoring the progress of various missions.
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Its role is to transform the raw light signal into a numerical signal compatible with the terrestrial telecom network. For the downlink, after reception and management of atmospheric turbulence, the optical detector decodes the raw light, and the modem demodulates the received information to convert it into numerical data transmissible via the terrestrial network. Conversely, for an uplink, the modem modulates the information to be transmitted before the resulting signal is processed for turbulence resistance and sent to the satellite.
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