Luxembourg-based Odysseus Space has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with South Korea’s CONTEC, to enhance global optical downlink capabilities for commercial satellite operators.
This collaboration seeks to integrate Odysseus’ laser communication technology with CONTEC’s established ground station network, thereby expanding the availability and capacity of space-to-ground data transfers.
Odysseus Space specialises in Laser Communication as a Service (LCaaS™), offering high-speed, secure data transmission solutions through its Cyclops™ system. The Cyclops-DTE, a space-based laser communication terminal, is designed for direct-to-Earth optical links, facilitating data downloads at speeds up to 10 Gbps and volumes up to 1 TB per day. The company plans to deploy a network of Optical Ground Stations (OGS) by 2026, with the first commercial station set to launch in Montsec, Cataluña, Spain. These stations are optimised to receive high-capacity data from satellites equipped with the Cyclops-DTE terminal and are compatible with emerging standards for next-generation space communication networks.
“This collaboration marks an important step toward accelerating the adoption of direct space-to-ground optical communication.”
Jordan Vannitsen, CEO and co-founder of Odysseus Space
CONTEC, known for its Ground Station as a Service (GSaaS) network, provides satellite operators with seamless global communication access. The partnership will integrate Odysseus’ optical communication expertise with CONTEC’s existing ground station infrastructure, significantly increasing the number of available downlink opportunities for both companies’ customers. CONTEC has already established its own optical ground stations across Asia and Oceania, building an independent infrastructure for laser-based data reception. Through this agreement, CONTEC will further expand its optical downlink coverage into Europe, strengthening its leadership in the next-generation satellite communication market.
“This collaboration marks an important step toward accelerating the adoption of direct space-to-ground optical communication”, said Jordan Vannitsen, CEO and co-founder of Odysseus Space. “By combining our complementary technologies and infrastructure, we are making optical downlinks more accessible and practical for commercial satellite operators”.
“Together, we aim to lead the global optical communication market.”
Dr. Sunghee Lee, CEO of CONTEC
Dr. Sunghee Lee, CEO of CONTEC, added, “This agreement marks the starting point of an international optical communication network connecting Asia and Europe and represents a key milestone in the advancement of CONTEC’s satellite data reception services. Together, we aim to lead the global optical communication market”.
The partnership underscores both companies’ commitment to advancing optical communication technologies, aiming to provide more accessible, reliable, and globally available services, particularly for data-intensive missions such as Earth Observation.
