Astrolight, a Lithuanian startup focused on space communications, has successfully raised €2.8 million in seed funding. This investment aims to fast-track the creation of a secure laser-based communication network that will link satellites to Earth, thus establishing an efficient optical data highway.

The funding, spearheaded by the frontier tech investor Balnord, also saw contributions from The Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO), Coinvest Capital, and notable existing investors. Astrolight’s innovative optical communication framework is designed to support both ground-to-space and inter-satellite communication, utilizing its proprietary ATLAS-1 modular optical terminals. The company’s goal is to offer laser communication services that ensure secure and scalable data transmission.

CEO and co-founder Laurynas Mačiulis highlighted that with the rapid increase of satellite deployments, conventional radio frequency systems struggle to keep up, only managing to retrieve around 20% of the data generated in orbit due to bandwidth constraints. Laser communication, or Lasercom, presents a solution by significantly increasing speeds, data capacity, and security.

Astrolight plans to use the newly acquired funding to establish its first operational optical ground station and demonstrate a hybrid terminal capable of handling both space-to-space and space-to-ground communication. This effort is not intended to replace current satellite networks but to enhance interoperability and overall connectivity.

The investment signifies a broader move toward innovation in deep tech and space infrastructure. Jarek Pilarczyk from Balnord expressed confidence in Astrolight’s technology, positioning it as vital for tackling the impending data bottleneck in space and ushering in a new era of high-speed space communications.

In early 2024, Astrolight established a subsidiary in Denmark to further its focus on Arctic operations, which drew EIFO’s attention due to the strategic significance of the region and Astrolight’s potential in bolstering European space capabilities.

According to Coinvest Capital, Astrolight’s strong technical expertise and vision for commercial success present a fantastic opportunity to emerge as a leader in the portable laser communication market, especially as demand for secure, high-speed satellite data transmission escalates.

Astrolight is already recognized as one of the premier NATO dual-use startups and participates in the DIANA program. The company has also been part of significant accelerators and secured various contracts with key organizations such as the Lithuanian Navy and the European Space Agency.

With forecasts predicting the launch of over 70,000 low Earth orbit satellites in the next five years, the need for advanced communication infrastructures is apparent. Astrolight’s laser communication technology promises to meet this demand by providing scalable, on-demand laser links that integrate seamlessly with existing satellite systems, paving the way for the future of space connectivity.

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