World-first gigabit-per-second laser link between aircraft and geostationary satellite
Summary
ESA and partners demonstrated a reliable gigabit-per-second laser link from an aircraft to a geostationary satellite, achieving 2.6 Gbps in test flights. The setup uses Airbus UltraAir and connects to Alphasat at 36,000 km, highlighting high data rates and improved security compared to RF links. The development points toward future plane and ship connectivity and broader secure optical networks across Europe.