Australian launch and satellite company Gilmour Space Technologies has selected Transcelestial to provide advanced laser communications terminals, marking a major step towards high-speed, secure satellite data transfer designed for the AI-era.
Under a long-term strategic partnership, Gilmour Space will integrate Transcelestial’s optical communications terminal on an upcoming satellite mission, supporting an in-orbit demonstration to validate wireless laser communications in real operational conditions.
The collaboration addresses a growing challenge facing satellite operators: the widening gap between the volume of data modern spacecraft can collect and the speed at which it can be delivered to users on the ground.
Enabling High-Capacity, Secure Satellite Data Transfer
As satellite sensors become more capable and AI-driven applications increase demand for low-latency, bandwidth-intensive connectivity, traditional radio-frequency links are increasingly constrained.
Transcelestial’s laser communications technology introduces a new infrastructure layer for satellite-to-ground and satellite-to-satellite data transfer, offering significantly higher throughput, reduced latency and enhanced security. The point-to-point optical links are resistant to jamming and incorporate post-quantum cryptography, enabling quantum-safe communications.
“Satellites are not just sensors in orbit anymore; they are becoming full-blown orbital data centres, and the network layer is now falling behind,” said Rohit Jha, CEO and Co-Founder of Transcelestial.
“I am proud to share that industry leaders like Gilmour Space are thinking ahead and partnering with us to change that for the AI-era.”
Laser Communications Enabled by Default
According to Transcelestial, Gilmour Space’s expanding satellite bus capabilities will place it among the first satellite manufacturers globally to offer laser communications as a default option.
“Gilmour Space’s satellite capabilities are rapidly expanding and their bus is going to be one of the first in the world to be laser-comms enabled by default,” Jha said.
“This capability puts them ahead of most bus manufacturers worldwide, and we are excited to see what this unlocks for the industry.”
The Transcelestial terminal delivery is scheduled for May 2026, ahead of a planned in-orbit demonstration launch aboard the SpaceX Transporter-18 mission later in the year.
Addressing the Satellite Data Bottleneck
The demonstration comes at a time when satellite operators are facing increasing pressure to move large volumes of data quickly and securely from orbit to Earth, particularly for Earth observation, defence, communications and AI-enabled analytics.
Laser communications provide a clear pathway to overcoming these limitations by enabling faster downlinks and resilient inter-satellite networking, supporting future constellations with improved performance and survivability.
Expanding Optical Communications Infrastructure in Australia
Beyond the initial downlink demonstration, Gilmour Space and Transcelestial will explore broader applications of optical communications, including satellite-to-satellite connectivity to support low-latency, resilient space networks.
The companies will also examine opportunities to strengthen Australia’s optical communications infrastructure, including the potential deployment of an Optical Ground Station in Queensland. In parallel, they plan to jointly pursue Australian research and development grants to support future demonstrator missions and advanced network capabilities.
Industry Focus on Real-World Integration
Mark Grimminck, Head of Satellites at Gilmour Space, highlighted the operational importance of the collaboration.
“One of the key limitations in satellite operations is data transmission from the platform to the ground,” Grimminck said.
“Laser communication links are one of the clearest paths to relieve that bottleneck, and our collaboration with Transcelestial is about proving how it performs in real operations.
“We’re focused on making it easier for satellite customers to adopt next-generation communications options without taking on unnecessary integration risk
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