The European Space Agency (ESA) has selected Xiphera to develop cybersecurity technology for next-generation high-speed satellite communications.
Under the project, the Finnish firm will develop a hardware-based security, intellectual property core to secure optical satellite links operating at up to 100 gigabits per second.
The technology is intended for future satellite constellations and other space systems that require both high-capacity data transmission and integrated cybersecurity.
According to the company, as satellites generate and exchange increasing volumes of data, optical communications are emerging as a way to deliver significantly higher bandwidth than conventional radio-frequency links.
Xiphera will contribute its expertise in hardware-based cryptography and security technologies developed for the space, defense, telecommunications, and industrial sectors.
“Future satellite constellations will rely on high-speed optical links capable of transferring massive amounts of data,” stated Petri Jehkonen, Director of Strategic Programs at Xiphera.
“Security must be built into these systems without compromising performance.”
Europe’s Next-Gen Satellites
The project is being developed under the ESA’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) program, ESA’s flagship initiative for advancing satellite telecommunications technologies.
The program supports companies throughout the development cycle, from early research to market-ready products and services, to accelerate the adoption of new space-based communications capabilities.
ARTES funds projects in areas such as secure satellite communications, optical and quantum networking, satellite integration with future 5G and 6G systems.
The initiative also aims to strengthen the competitiveness of the European space industry while reducing reliance on non-European technologies in critical communications systems.
