Cailabs and Eutelsat to explore European optical ground infrastructure and direct-to-earth laser communications
- Cailabs and Eutelsat have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the International Space Summit in Paris to explore the development of European optical communications infrastructure and services.
- The companies will assess the potential deployment of Cailabs’ optical ground stations at Eutelsat’s gateway sites as part of Cailabs’ planned Optical Ground Station as a Service network.
- The companies will also study whether laser communication terminals could be hosted as payloads on future Eutelsat satellites, with the potential to support direct-to-Earth optical services for government and institutional users.
- The collaboration is intended to support higher-capacity, more secure, resilient and sovereign European space communications.
Rennes, France – September 9, 2026 – Global deeptech company Cailabs, a world leader in advanced photonics, and Eutelsat, a global satellite operator, have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore cooperation on optical communications infrastructure and services in space and on the ground.
The companies share an ambition to strengthen Europe’s capacity for high-speed, secure, resilient and sovereign satellite communications.
A priority area of the collaboration will be to assess the deployment of Cailabs’ optical ground stations at suitable Eutelsat gateway sites. These stations could form part of Cailabs’ planned OGSaaS network, providing shared access to optical ground infrastructure through a service-based model.
Eutelsat already operates a global ground infrastructure supporting both its low Earth orbit satellite constellation and its geostationary fleet. Hosting optical ground stations at suitable gateway sites could allow support for a new generation of high-capacity laser links between space and Earth.
Cailabs and Eutelsat will also assess whether one or more laser communication terminals could be hosted as payloads on future Eutelsat satellites. One potential application would be to provide direct-to-Earth optical services, using laser links to transfer high volumes of data from satellites to optical ground infrastructure.
Laser communications use narrow beams of light to carry very large volumes of data between satellites or between satellites and the ground. Unlike conventional radio-frequency communications, optical links do not require licensed spectrum and can support very high data rates. Their narrow beams can also make them harder to detect, intercept or jam from outside the path of the link.
Jean-François Morizur, CEO of Cailabs, said:
‘Europe needs communications infrastructure that can move more data while remaining secure.
‘Eutelsat already operates major satellite and ground infrastructure across Europe and around the world. We’re bringing the optical communication technology and ground station capabilities needed to add very high-capacity laser links to that infrastructure.
‘This collaboration lets us look at both ends of the laser link: hosting optical terminals in orbit and developing the ground infrastructure and services needed to receive optical data at scale.’
Guillaume Scottez, Vice President for Innovation at Eutelsat said, “Optical communications hold significant potential for the future of satellite connectivity. This agreement will allow us to explore how Cailabs’ expertise could complement Eutelsat’s satellite and ground infrastructure, while supporting Europe’s ambitions for secure, resilient and sovereign space communications.”
Cailabs has six deployed and operable optical ground stations and more than 10 stations under contract. Its working deployments include stations in Rennes, France; the Perth area of Australia; Jeju Island, South Korea; and Greece. This deployed base provides the initial foundation for Cailabs’ planned OGSaaS network.
The agreement was signed during the International Space Summit, held in Paris on 9 and 10 September 2026. The summit brings together governments, space agencies, industry and researchers to address the challenges facing the space sector.