Astrolight is a Lithuanian space startup, recently attracted 2,8 million euros to create the so-called "optical data highway".
This technology is a kind of invisible Internet cables, designed to connect satellites with the Earth using lasers. Development has not only commercial, but the defense potential is especially relevant in the conditions of Russia's aggressive policy.
Astrolight is already a participant in NATO's defense accelerator DIANA (Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic), created in 2023 year for the adaptation of civil technologies to military needs.
In particular, NATO is interested in that, to use secure laser communication to transmit intelligence – the technology is already being tested in the Lithuanian Navy. According to Astrolight co-founder and CEO Laurinas Matsiulis, the idea arose, when the Lithuanian Navy asked for communication, which works during radio silence.
The main advantage of laser communication for the army is the low probability of signal interception and jamming. Since the information is transmitted through a narrow beam, the laser is difficult to detect.
The demand for such solutions will only grow - in the next five years it is expected to launch more than 70 thousands of satellites. Astrolight aims to be part of the global transition from traditional radio communication to faster, more reliable and protected laser.