Chinese scientists take a step closer to 6G with optical switch

To address demands, networks need to become three-dimensional in the future By Ameya Paleja, Published by Interesting Engineering, 16 October 2023 Scientists at the Xian Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences have successfully tested optical switching in space for the first time, South China Morning

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SDA asks industry for 100 satellites in latest move toward ‘global’ data constellation

The Space Development Agency will begin launching its first operational data transport satellites in 2024, part of the Space Force’s effort to build a space version of the internet. (Image: Northrop Grumman) By Theresa Hitchens, Published by Breaking Defense, 29 June 2023 The plan is to grant two contractors Other

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Orbit of Babel: SDA developing ‘translators’ to get data from ISR sats to warfighters

The Space Development Agency will begin launching its Tranche 1 Transport Layer communications mesh network in 2024. (Image: Northrop Grumman) By Theresa Hitchen, Published by Breaking Defense, 26 October 2022 "Translator" payloads are necessary because many of today's commercial remote sensing providers do not, and will not, have the ability

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US needs to temper reliance on at-risk-undersea internet cables, satellites can help: Arospace

By Theresa Hitchens, Published by Breaking Defense, 3 February 2022 "Undersea cable infrastructure is ripe for sabotage," said Karen Jones, one of the authors of the study. WASHINGTON: Some 430 undersea fiber optic cables carry 99% of intercontinental internet traffic, and those lifelines of global commerce are highly vulnerable to

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A notional image of one of the Space Development Agency's first transport layer satellites. (Lockheed Martin)

The US military wants to plug commercial satellites into its orbital networks

By Nathan Strout, Published by C4ISRNET, 23 December 2021 WASHINGTON — The U.S. military wants to directly plug commercial imagery satellites into its forthcoming orbital networks, enabling soldiers in the field to access that data faster. The military has become increasingly interested in using satellite imagery to extend its situational

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