NTT will bring its all-photonics network drive to space in a collaboration with France’s Cailabs, as exploring space-to-ground optical communications.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will see NTT’s digital coherent and network control technology integrated into Cailabs’ optical ground stations, with select stations linked to nearby NTT data centers via NTT's All-Photonics Network (APN). The partnership develops work from the NTT Group-led Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN), where optics are utilized over electricity for data transmission across the network.

Based in France and the U.S., Cailabs designs and manufactures optical ground stations for high-capacity satellite-to-ground communications. With the NTT transfusion, both firms aim to tackle the increase in demand for data communications amid satellite constellation scale out.

Here, optical communication technology is expected to support standard wireless systems, with the duo aiming to create an integrated network linking satellites, optical ground stations, terrestrial networks, and data centers.

NTT has some pedigree in the space, having recently partnered on a similar project with Mbryonics. The Irish satellite optical communications company integrated NTT's coherent digital signal processing (DSP) technology into its optical communications platform, creating an “internet in space” with high-speed optical links between satellites and ground infrastructure.

Like the Cailabs venture, that partnership falls under NTT’s space business brand, NTT C89. Formally launched in 2024, the umbrella project covers geostationary Earth orbit (GEO), low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite observation and communications, and high-altitude platform station (HAPS).

Its name refers to the 88 officially recognised constellations, with NTT’s various space projects forming a metaphorical 89th constellation.

“This partnership with Cailabs marks a significant milestone in applying NTT’s IOWN technology to the space sector. Building on the technology cultivated through NTT’s research and development and Cailabs’ proven capability in the steady deployment of optical ground stations, we will accelerate the global expansion of optical communication infrastructure in the space sector and open up new growth opportunities,” Minako Tsumenaga, SVP and head of alliance division R&D marketing HQ at NTT.

“Connecting optical ground stations directly to terrestrial optical networks is a critical step toward making satellite optical communications operational at scale. By combining NTT’s expertise in advanced optical networking with Cailabs’ experience in designing, manufacturing, and deploying optical ground stations, this collaboration will explore an end-to-end architecture connecting satellites, ground infrastructure, and data centers," Cailabs CEO Jean-François Morizu added.