At the occasion of the 2016 Ministerial Council, ESA's Telecommunications and Integrated Applications Directorate (TIA) launched a new ARTES programme on Optical Communication Technologies called ScyLight (SeCure and Laser communication Technology, pronounced "skylight") which is dealing with 4 different thematic lines:

·        System Level Aspects on Optical Communications
·        Optical Communication Terminal Technology;
·        Intra-Satellite Photonics/ Optical Payloads;
·        Quantum Cryptography Technologies and initial services demonstration. 

At our first ScyLight Workshop in Feb 2017, ESA proposed that it would like to provide a forum for regular discussion for all relevant stakeholders within the domain of ScyLight activities. We would therefore like to give you this opportunity by inviting you to join us at our 2018 ScyLight Workshop, in Florence, Italy.

While the first workshops were focused on the introduction of the programme and to provide a some overview on industrial capabilities, the purpose of this workshop is to be a networking event for the "Optical and Quantum Communication" community.

The workshop will give an opportunity for you to present and discuss the progress and advances that have been made in the optical communication domain since last year.

The workshop will be organised in 4 sequential blocks, addressing

●          Optical Communication Technology on System Level

●          Future and challenges on Optical Communication Terminal developments

●          Trends and challenges on Intra-Satellite Photonics / Optical Payloads

●          Space based Quantum Cryptography Technologies

For each of the topics, interested participants may request the opportunity to have a presentation/ Pitch Talk. You can propose your 30 Minute presentation, together with your registration. (Deadline for Talks: 23^th  May 2018)

(Depending on the number of requests by participants, the proposed timeline in the agenda will be adapted. ESA reserves the right to down select proposed talks.)

A dinner will be held, to which you are cordially invited on the evening of the 6^th of June.

 
For registration, please click here

 
ARTES ScyLight background information

Optical Communication Technologies are considered to be one of the next major revolutions in satellite communication, bringing unprecedentedly high levels of transmission rates, data security and resilience in the next decade.

The commercial take-up of optical technologies is believed to be the next breakthrough in the satcom market arena, addressing the need for the ever-increasing data rate and secure communication. Today’s developments and early implementations cannot demonstrate its full capabilities, as the optical solution is mainly used in non-optimized systems, focusing on one particular area only (e.g. high data rate transmission from one point to another).

Although the strong position of the European and Canadian Industry has been demonstrated, the technology gap is still very large for the commercial use of optical applications.

In order to support the European and Canadian industry ESA has launched a comprehensive and tailored programme, called ScyLight (SeCure and Laser communication Technology, pronounced "skylight"), taking into account potential technologies, systems and applications.

The programme is dealing, in different thematic lines, with the following overarching objectives: address the development, demonstration and utilization of innovative optical technologies for satellite communication as well as new market opportunities, and support industry to develop or seize related market opportunities.

In pursuit of this high-level objective, ESA will perform system studies and market analyses to derive system/sub-system requirements for optical technologies and to understand the needs of the end-users. The derived information will lead to the identification of the critical elements for an ESA technology roadmap on optical communication technologies.

In parallel, ScyLight provides the tools to support industry-initiated activities from dedicated studies and technology developments up to proof of concept/demonstration missions, showing the maturity of the innovation to potential end-user communities.

The programme will concentrate European and Canadian efforts on optical communication technologies in the following areas:

●          Optical Communication Technology at System Level
●          Optical Communication Terminal Technology
●          Intra-Satellite Photonics/Optical Payloads
●          Quantum Cryptography Technologies and initial services demonstration