en.Wedoany.com Reported - SES, together with Airbus Netherlands B.V., has signed a ground lease agreement with the municipality of Noordwijk to lease a plot at the NL Space Campus, adjacent to the European Space Agency (ESA) technology center ESTeC. The facility will house a dedicated optical ground station (OGS) for communication with the EAGLE-1 satellite and for receiving quantum-secure keys via laser technology.

The ground station, built by Airbus for SES, will include a control room and a dome housing an ultra-high-precision telescope for tracking the satellite, which is critical for laser links. To ensure the precision of the laser connection, the station will be equipped with advanced optics capable of correcting atmospheric distortions in real time, such as turbulence caused by air movement or temperature fluctuations.

Xavier Bertran, Chief Product and Innovation Officer at SES, stated that the optical ground station will serve as the primary ground connection for the EAGLE-1 system, which is managed by SES in a public-private partnership with ESA and the European Commission (EC). Once operational, the system will allow users in sectors such as government and banking to adopt quantum-secure technology early, enabling next-generation cybersecurity.

Through the EAGLE-1 project, Europe will obtain its first satellite based on quantum technology to demonstrate end-to-end ultra-secure communications. EAGLE-1, consisting of a satellite, a ground network, and advanced laser connections, is the first and crucial step in developing a European quantum key distribution (QKD) system. Unlike traditional satellites that use radio frequencies, the EAGLE-1 satellite link utilizes laser beams to transmit secure keys, establishing optimal secure connections over long distances.

The technical implementation of the station is led by the main contractor TNO, which is also responsible for the advanced optics. TNO will leverage the expertise of other specialized partners, including FSO Instruments, which provides sensors; Airbus Netherlands, responsible for the real-time control system; Officina Stellare, responsible for the telescope and dome; and Celestia STS, responsible for the optical digital modem.