FSO Instruments – Pioneering Laser Terminals for Secure Satellite Communications
FSO Instruments is a Dutch venture bringing cutting-edge laser communications from laboratory to orbit. In the space-minded city of Delft, this TNO spin-off is building optical terminals that transmit data between satellites, aircraft, and ground stations not by radio waves, but by tightly focused laser beams. The payoff is enormous: dramatically higher bandwidth and security for Europe’s communications networks. Born from decades of Dutch research in space optics, FSO Instruments is backed by high-tech manufacturers Demcon and VDL and is “the first laser satellite communication technology company to be founded in the Netherlands”[1][2]. Its mission aligns with Europe’s quest for strategic autonomy in space infrastructure – reducing reliance on non-European suppliers and safeguarding sensitive data links with unjammable, instantaneous laser connections. This introduction offers a glimpse into a company at the forefront of Europe’s secure communications revolution, enticing further exploration into its strategic and technological significance.