Paris – September 10, 2026 – Cailabs, a global leader in advanced photonics and optical ground station technology, and RBC Signals, a provider of global satellite ground infrastructure and mission services, have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore the deployment, operation and commercial delivery of optical ground station services for satellite operators worldwide.
The collaboration will assess how RBC Signals customers could access optical downlink services and where Cailabs optical ground stations could be deployed across RBC Signals’ existing and planned global network. The companies will evaluate potential locations against the geographic, weather, connectivity, security and infrastructure requirements of optical communications.
Building a geographically distributed network is essential to the availability of optical services. Because cloud cover and local weather conditions can prevent an optical link, access to multiple suitably located stations enables missions to use an alternative site when conditions at one location are unfavorable.
Beyond ground-site deployment, the companies will explore how RBC Signals’ experience supporting multiple missions and customers could contribute to the operation of Cailabs’ planned global Optical Ground Station-as-a-Service network.
RBC Signals has developed hardware, software and operational capabilities for managing ground infrastructure used by several missions and customers. Cailabs and RBC Signals will examine how these systems and operating experience could support the orchestration, scheduling, prioritisation, and mission management needed for a network of optical ground stations.
The collaboration also addresses how optical capacity could be brought to market. Cailabs and RBC Signals will explore a commercial model through which RBC Signals could offer Cailabs optical downlink capacity to its customers and integrate optical services into existing commercial relationships.
The resulting model would allow satellite operators to access optical downlink capacity as a managed service, without having to build and operate their own dedicated optical ground infrastructure.
Jean-François Morizur, CEO of Cailabs, said:
‘Satellite operators shouldn’t have to build an entirely new ground network to benefit from optical communications.
‘RBC Signals brings a global ground infrastructure footprint, established customer relationships and experience supporting multiple missions. Cailabs brings deployable optical ground stations and the foundation of a future global optical service.
‘Together, we are working towards a model in which satellite operators can access optical capacity as a managed service, wherever their missions require it.’
RBC Signals Founder and Chief Strategy Officer Christopher Richins said:
“RBC Signals is excited to enter into this MOU with Cailabs to bring optical ground communication services to satellite operators. Cailabs is a leading supplier of optical ground stations. RBC Signals believes satellite operators will need both traditional radio frequency and optical communications to support the growing volume of data transferred between Earth and space for Earth observation, orbital data center, defense, and space logistics missions.”