Imagine your satellite internet is like a highway — right now, the on-ramps and off-ramps (the optical connectors inside the satellite) are too slow, too big, and use too much power for the traffic explosion coming. SIPhoDiAS built new versions of these critical connectors — transceivers, modulators, and photodetectors — that are dramatically smaller, faster, and more power-efficient. Think of it like replacing a bulky old router with a sleek modern one that handles 4 times the traffic at a fraction of the electricity. These components are designed to survive the harsh radiation of space and are tested to near-flight-ready levels.
Satellite operators face a capacity crunch: demand for broadband from space is exploding, but the optical connectors inside satellites are too slow, too heavy, and too power-hungry to keep up. Current photonic components — transceivers, modulators, photodetectors — cannot meet the size, weight, and power (SWaP) targets needed for next-generation very-high-throughput satellites. Worse, most of these critical parts come from US suppliers, creating a supply chain vulnerability for European satellite manufacturers.
The project delivered physical hardware modules: a 112 Gb/s (4x 28 Gb/s) radiation-hard transceiver module, a Gen-1 photodetector module, and a GaAs electro-optic modulator array module. These were integrated and tested in representative satellite payload sub-systems, demonstrating optical interconnects running 350% faster with 80% less power and 50% less mass than current solutions.
If you are a satellite prime contractor dealing with payload weight and power budgets that limit your throughput capacity — this project developed radiation-hard transceivers running at 224 Gb/s that are 4.5x faster and 8.5x more energy efficient than current solutions. That means you can offer higher-capacity satellites without redesigning your power and thermal systems.
If you are a satellite broadband operator struggling to meet surging demand for bandwidth — this project built optical interconnect demonstrators running 350% faster with 80% less power and 50% less mass. These photonic payload components let you deliver more capacity per satellite, directly reducing your cost-per-bit to end users.
If you are a European component supplier competing against US-dominated photonic parts for satellites — this project created flight-grade European alternatives: 50 GHz modulators 2 times smaller with 7 times more bandwidth per unit area, and 40 GHz photodetectors that are 50% lighter. These are European-made components filling a critical supply chain gap.
The project data does not include specific pricing. However, the components deliver 8.5x better energy efficiency and 50% mass reduction, which translates to significant savings on satellite launch costs (where every kilogram costs thousands of euros) and operational power budgets. Contact the coordinator for commercial pricing discussions.
The project targeted TRL 7 (flight-ready parts) and delivered physical hardware including a 112 Gb/s transceiver module, photodetector modules, and GaAs modulator arrays. The consortium is 86% industry partners (6 out of 7), which suggests a strong path toward production. Scale manufacturing readiness would need to be confirmed with the consortium.
The project was funded as a Research and Innovation Action (RIA) under Horizon 2020. IP is typically held by the consortium partners who created it. With 3 SMEs and 6 industrial partners across 6 countries, licensing arrangements would need to be negotiated directly with the relevant partner holding specific component IP.
The transceivers are explicitly described as radiation-hard, designed for space-grade operation. The project aimed to demonstrate flight-ready parts at TRL 7, meaning components were tested under representative space conditions including radiation exposure. Specific radiation test results would be available from the consortium.
The project closed in June 2023 with delivered hardware modules. With TRL 7 as the target, these components would typically need 2-3 more years of flight qualification and integration testing before appearing in commercial satellite missions. The lead prime contractor Thales Alenia Space (referenced in the objective as TAS) has already introduced optical interconnects in commercial processors.
Yes, the project specifically designed these as opto-electronic interfaces — the connectors between existing payload equipment. Modules were system-integrated and tested in representative sub-systems, demonstrating compatibility with both digital photonic payloads and microwave photonic payloads up to Q/V band (40-50 GHz).
The SIPhoDiAS consortium is heavily industry-driven: 6 out of 7 partners are industrial companies, with 3 SMEs, spread across 6 countries (Switzerland, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, UK). This 86% industry ratio is unusually high for an EU research project and signals that the work was commercially motivated from the start. The coordinator is a Greek SME (LEO Space Photonics), and the objective references Thales Alenia Space as the prime contractor already deploying optical interconnects commercially. The single research organization provides the scientific backbone while the rest of the consortium focuses on building and testing actual hardware. For a business buyer, this means you are dealing with companies that build products, not just publish papers.
LEO Space Photonics R&D (Greece) — contact via SciTransfer for warm introduction to the coordinator and access to technical specifications
SciTransfer can arrange a direct introduction to the SIPhoDiAS consortium, provide a detailed technology brief, and help you evaluate these photonic components for your satellite program. Contact us to get started.
