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BENGALURU: Photonics and defence technology firm olee.space Friday said it has successfully demonstrated an indigenous wireless laser communication system capable of transmitting data at 10Gbps over a distance of 20km.The system, built with about 85% locally sourced components, was designed, manufactured and tested in India. The company said the demonstration validated its ability to deliver long-range, high-capacity optical wireless links suitable for defence and other strategic applications under representative atmospheric conditions.Wireless laser communication offers advantages such as independence from radio-frequency spectrum, low probability of interception and resistance to electronic jamming, making it relevant for defence and government use where conventional RF systems face limitations.According to olee.space, the platform integrates precision opto-mechanical subsystems developed in-house, including a high-accuracy, Indian-manufactured gimbal with arc-second level pointing precision. It also features an internally integrated fast steering mirror assembly. “Together, the dual-stage stabilisation system uses voice-coil and piezo-mounted actuators [mechanisms that convert electrical energy into motion] to maintain link stability over long distances, even under dynamic atmospheric or platform-induced disturbances,” the firm said. olee.space founder and CEO James Solomon said the achievement marked a significant milestone for indigenous optical communication capabilities. “Achieving a 20km, 10 Gbps optical link with carrier-grade availability under Indian operating conditions establishes India’s ability to design, manufacture and validate advanced wireless laser communication systems using predominantly indigenous technologies,” he said.During performance validation, the system achieved a carrier-grade link availability of over 99.9%, meeting operational requirements for mission-critical communication. The company said the entire design, integration and field demonstration were completed within four months of project funding. This, it noted, reflected the growing maturity of India’s private-sector defence manufacturing ecosystem and its capacity to deliver advanced optical communication systems at speed.The system’s architecture is designed to be adaptable across terrestrial, maritime, aerial and high-altitude platforms, with potential for future space-based applications, subject to integration requirements. By reducing reliance on imported optical communication subsystems, the capability supports India’s push towards end-to-end indigenous development in advanced wireless communication technologies.
