Laser Light Communications, a start-up that plans to operate the world’s first commercial satcom constellation based on optical wave technology, has secured a US$24m funding commitment from US Finance.
The financing is to be used to build Laser…
Laser Light Communications, a start-up that plans to operate the world’s first commercial satcom constellation based on optical wave technology, has secured a US$24m funding commitment from US Finance.
The financing is to be used to build Laser Light’s HALO Center, a laser communications test and evaluation facility.
The centre will be located in Reston, Virginia, with the funding commitment allocated for facilities, equipment and other corporate purposes. The facility is expected to be operational by late 2014.
HALO is intended to be the pre-launch test, demonstration and certification centre of the underlying critical elements for Laser Light’s planned global hybrid satellite-terrestrial optical network.
This includes routing global IP traffic through the centre’s 100G point-of-presence, which will consist of a hybrid fibre-laser-fibre loop, to simulate the anticipated performance of an all-optical satellite-terrestrial system.
Laser Light CEO Robert Brumley, the former president and CEO of MSS operator TerreStar, said the hybrid satellite-terrestrial system is currently scheduled for deployment in 2017. An RfP for the network is expected to be issued later this year.
The company initially issued an RfI for the design, estimated pricing and launch of its proposed satellite constellation to 24 US and European aerospace firms in July 2013. Those companies had 90 days to respond after which additional information was sought from a number of the potential vendors. An RfP is expected to be launched in mid-2014.
Laser Light intends to develop a constellation of 12 interconnected MEO satellites, eight primary with four in-orbit spares, that would connect with the global fibre optic network.
Brumley previously told SatelliteFinance that that the estimated total cost of the venture will be between around US$1.5bn and US$2bn.
