A new degree of freedom for optical communication

SatEnlight develops a new generation of optical communication systems that multiply communication capacity using Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM), enabling faster, scalable, resilient, and more secure communication systems.

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The problem

Communication is reaching its physical limits

Satellite constellations are generating unprecedented volumes of data. Radio frequency systems are approaching spectral saturation, with limited bandwidth, increasing interference and inherent security constraints.

Free-space optical communication offers access to much higher carrier frequencies. Yet most optical links still transmit information through a single spatial mode of light.

Today, capacity scaling relies mainly on spectral multiplexing, pushing systems toward growing complexity and finite spectral resources.

Light, however, carries additional degrees of freedom that remain largely unexplored, the Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM).

To truly scale optical communication, the next generation of space infrastructure must move beyond the spectrum and harness OAM.

Our solution

Spatial Multiplexing

1/5

SatEnlight introduces a new spatial dimension to optical communication. By exploiting Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM), multiple independent data streams can coexist within a single optical beam.

Low-Complexity Demodulation

2/5

SatEnlight has developed a patented receiver designed to demultiplex multiple OAM channels. The system samples only a localized region of the incoming wavefront, enabling simultaneous channel decoding without full wavefront reconstruction.

Multiplicative capacity scaling

3/5

Current optical systems scale capacity through spectral or polarization multiplexing. By introducing a new spatial degree of freedom, SatEnlight enables a new layer of multiplexing without increasing spectral occupancy or system complexity.

Intrinsic Physical-Layer Security

4/5

OAM channels cannot be decoded without the appropriate demodulation architecture. This introduces an additional physical layer of security, embedded directly in the physics of structured light transmission.

Seamless System Integration

5/5

SatEnlight technology is designed to integrate with existing free-space optical terminals based on Gaussian-beam architectures. This enables capacity and security upgrades without replacing validated communication hardware.

Key metrics

TRL 4 validated

>1 Gbps demonstrated

3,5 km urban outdoor link completed

Multiplexed up to 4 OAM different channels

Technology tested and validated under medium-strenght atmospheric turbulence

10 km campaign planned

Drone-to-ground test planned

2 international patents. Third patent pending

3 LOI obtained

ESA BIC Padua incubated

€1.3M funding secured

StartCup Lomardia winner

Corporate Thales Alenia Space Prize winner

DeepTech Revolution grant by Area Science Park obtained

Applications Highlight

Applications Across Space and Terrestrial Domains

Satellite downlinks

Inter-satellite communications

Airborne & UAV Optical Links

Secure defense communications

Urban optical backhaul

Future terabit-class architectures

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Team Highlight

SatEnlight brings together physicists, semiconductor engineers, telecommunications and space instrumentation experts working at the intersection of optics, photonics and space communication.

Meet the Team