ESA Picks Xiphera for Secure Optical Satellite Communications Project
Finnish cybersecurity specialist Xiphera has been selected for a new European Space Agency (ESA) ARTES programme project to develop hardware-based security technology for next-generation optical satellite communications.
The project is focused on creating a cryptographic IP core capable of securing optical satellite links operating at speeds of up to 100 Gbit/s, addressing the growing need to protect the large volumes of data exchanged between future satellite constellations and space infrastructure.
Rather than treating security as an add-on, the technology is designed to embed hardware-based encryption directly into high-speed optical communications, allowing satellites to maintain ultra-high data rates without compromising cybersecurity.
The project builds on Xiphera's existing expertise in hardware cryptography for the space, defence, telecommunications and industrial sectors, while supporting ESA's broader goal of strengthening European sovereignty in critical space technologies. As optical inter-satellite links become increasingly important for next-generation constellations, secure, high-performance communications are expected to become a core requirement for future space networks.