On 13 March 2024, TNO and FSO Instruments announced that they have entered into licensing and cooperation agreements. Under these agreements, FSO Instruments acquires worldwide rights to industrialise and commercialise TNO's laser satellite communications technology. This optical technology enables much faster and safer broadband connectivity than with currently used radio frequencies. The agreement confirms both parties' commitment to a long-term partnership to establish a European laser satellite communications ecosystem in the Netherlands.
Making TNO's laser communication technology directly accessible to FSO Instruments immediately strengthens the position of the Netherlands and Europe in this rapidly emerging and highly competitive global value chain.
Kees Buijsrogge
Director Space & Scientific Instrumentation at TNO
Long-term cooperation
The 20-year licence agreement enables FSO Instruments to use TNO's technology and expertise in optical modules and subsystems and precision alignment components. FSO Instruments will build on TNO's technology and integrate it into products that can be reliably and efficiently mass-produced for commercial use. Besides a licensing agreement for currently available technologies, TNO and FSO Instruments have also agreed on a long-term collaboration for the development of innovative laser communication technologies and applications. In this collaboration, TNO focuses on early technology development and demonstration models, while FSO is responsible for technology industrialisation, manufacturing and market development.
Will Crowcombe, Managing Director FSO Instruments: "TNO is an important partner for FSO Instruments. Our collaboration, which industrialises valuable applied research into commercial products, is a textbook example of valorisation. This agreement enhances our ability to create the supply chain we need to be a leading supplier of optical modules and subsystems for laser satellite communications."
Initial success
TNO has been developing optical instruments for use in space for decades, particularly for astronomy and Earth observation. Recently, TNO succeeded in sending data from a satellite to a ground station in The Hague via self-developed laser communication technology. It was the first time this has been achieved with such a small and light satellite instrument of Dutch manufacture. This is the same core technology that FSO Instruments uses in their systems.
Laser satellite communication
Laser satellite communication works by forming laser beams and transmitting them over long distances. The technology provides links between ground stations, satellites, aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles. It can transmit data a hundred to a thousand times faster than is possible with the radio frequencies currently used for global communications. It is also safer because very narrow optical laser beams are used instead of much wider radio signals. Laser satellite communication requires complex opto-mechatronics to ensure fast and reliable connections. It enables the necessary further growth of communications to and through space, enabling many applications in the process. Examples include safer internet banking, self-driving cars, fast and reliable internet in aircraft and offshore platforms, as well as in rural areas for consumers, governments and businesses. In addition, it can protect soldiers on missions through more secure military communications, making it relevant for defence purposes as well.
Fast-growing market
With the growth in data consumption, laser communication technology is currently on the rise. Global demand for laser satellite communication applications and components is expected to grow exponentially in the near future. The Netherlands has the ecosystem and capacity to develop series production of high-quality instruments for laser satellite communication. FSO Instruments, founded last year, is the first Dutch company in this field. It develops and produces optical modules and subsystems for laser satellite communication terminals.
Illustration global laser communication network
Module for laser satellite communication © FSO
