Hellas Sat 5 to Feature Cutting-Edge Optical Communication Payload in Partnership with Thales Alenia Space

Hellas Sat 5 to Feature Cutting-Edge Optical Communication Payload in Partnership with Thales Alenia Space

(IN BRIEF) Hellas Sat and Thales Alenia Space have entered into a partnership to develop an optical communication payload for the upcoming Hellas Sat 5 telecommunications satellite. The aim is to offer cutting-edge communication services with high data rates from geostationary orbit. This innovative payload will connect with ground stations in Greece, France, and ESA, as well as Thales Alenia Space’s LEO HydRON telecommunication satellite. Thales Alenia Space is working on very high data rate capacities, up to 1 terabit per second, to overcome the challenges of long-distance communication and atmospheric turbulence. The MoU was signed at Hellas Sat’s headquarters in Athens, Greece, with the participation of various government officials and space organizations.

(PRESS RELEASE) ATHENS, 26-Jan-2024 — /EuropaWire/ —  Thales (EPA: HO), a French multinational company active in the aerospace, defence, transportation and security markets, announces that Hellas Sat and Thales Alenia Space, a joint-venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), have formalized their collaboration by signing a Memorandum of Understanding. This strategic partnership is geared towards the development of an advanced optical communication payload for the forthcoming Hellas Sat 5 telecommunications satellite, slated to operate in geostationary orbit at 39 degrees East.

The joint endeavor between Hellas Sat and Thales Alenia Space aims to usher in a new era of cutting-edge communication services, delivering exceptionally high data rates from geostationary orbit. At the heart of this innovation lies the aspiration to establish seamless connectivity with key ground infrastructure, including the Optical Ground Station of the National Athens Observatory in Greece, Optical Ground Stations in France, Optical Ground Stations of the European Space Agency (ESA), and Thales Alenia Space’s LEO HydRON telecommunication satellite.

Building on the success of the Vertigo H2020 program, Thales Alenia Space is actively advancing the development of groundbreaking high-data-rate capabilities, reaching up to 1 terabit per second, to address the unique challenges posed by long-distance communication between the ground and geostationary orbit, coupled with the complexities of cross-atmospheric turbulence. Support for this ambitious initiative is provided by France Relance (CO-OP), CNES (DYSCO), and ESA (HydRON).

The official MoU signing ceremony convened at Hellas Sat’s headquarters in Athens, Greece, and witnessed the presence of distinguished guests, including representatives from the Prime Minister’s Office, the French embassy in Greece, ESA, CNES, Thales Alenia Space France, Italy, and Switzerland, the National Athens Observatory, along with several Greek ministries and local authorities.

Christodoulos Protopapas, CEO of Hellas Sat stated : “We are honored to work once again with Thales Alenia Space in the realm of optical communication technology, introducing the optical connectivity communication services to the European and International market thus effectively achieving the implementation of new technologies and sealing a new era.”

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Hellas Sat and all our partners to develop optical communications payload, a crucial step towards establishing a secure and very high data rate optical network. This marks the beginning of a new era in telecommunication services with a sustainable approach.” said Marc-Henri Serre, Executive Vice President Telecommunications at Thales Alenia Space.

“Undoubtedly, this is a big step towards technological progress, which in fact strengthens the cooperation between Greece and France. The Hellas Sat 5 satellite which is to be constructed will provide us with new possibilities in fields such as early forecasting and the collection of scientific data” said the Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Mr. Vassilis Kikilias.

About Free Space Optical Communications
Free Space Optical laser Communications are emerging as a space standard, offering significantly greater capacities compared to current satcom systems (terabit/sec vs. gigabit/sec). This technology is poised to revolutionize space telecommunication infrastructure, similar to the impact of optical fiber on the ground.

ESA HydRON and CNES DYSCO projects target high throughput optical space links R&D and demonstrations, addressing challenges in providing connectivity to multiple users across different orbits, ground assets and applications. The system showcases the capabilities of the optical communication technology in end-to-end system implementations.

Various use cases include universal internet access, direct data transmission from observation satellites at any time, private links to data center and optical fiber redundancy on the ground in case of crises.

Introducing optical fiber in space is expected to reduce the need for a high number of satellites in orbit, contributing to the sustainability of space infrastructure and minimizing sky pollution.

ABOUT THALES ALENIA SPACE
Drawing on over 40 years of experience and a unique combination of skills, expertise and cultures, Thales Alenia Space delivers cost-effective solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, environmental management, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures. Governments and private industry alike count on Thales Alenia Space to design satellite-based systems that provide anytime, anywhere connections and positioning, monitor our planet, enhance management of its resources, and explore our Solar System and beyond. Thales Alenia Space sees space as a new horizon, helping to build a better, more sustainable life on Earth. A joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space also teams up with Telespazio to form the parent companies’ Space Alliance, which offers a complete range of services. Thales Alenia Space posted consolidated revenues of approximately 2.2 billion euros in 2022 and has around 8,500 employees in 17 sites in 10 countries across Europe and a plant in the USA.

THALES ALENIA SPACE – PRESS CONTACTS
Sandrine Bielecki
Tel: +33 (0)4 92 92 70 94
sandrine.bielecki@thalesaleniaspace.com

Isis Baracco
Tel: +33(0) 6 86 16 26 77
isis.baracco@thalesaleniaspace.com

Cinzia Marcanio
Tel.: +39 (0)6 415 126 85
cinzia.marcanio@thalesaleniaspace.com

ABOUT HELLAS SAT
HELLAS SAT is a premium satellite services provider that owns and operates three satellites delivering high-quality, cost-effective video, broadband and data services in Europe, Middle East and Southern Africa. The Company also provides managed services such as digital broadcasting and connectivity to its customers from its own premises in Greece and Cyprus as well as through its network of partners around the world. Hellas Sat is a subsidiary of Arabsat and is based in Greece and Cyprus. https://www.hellas-sat.net

HELLAS SAT – PRESS CONTACTS

Maria Faka.
Tel. : + 30 6978899192
m.faka@hellas-sat.net

SOURCE: Thales