France outlines Iris2 constellation rationale; network to have 100-Gbps optical inter-satellite links, use RF for space-to-ground

by Peter B. de Selding

BRUSSELS — The early design of the Iris2 multi-orbit secure connectivity constellation calls for 100-Gbps optical inter-satellite links to relay data between the MEO and LEO satellites, but satellite-to-ground connections will be handled by radio-frequency connections, France’s inter-ministerial Iris2 and GovSatCom coordinator, Jean-Pierre Diris, said.

“It’s a question of maturity,” Diris said. Optical links “is a key technology for the future of telecommunications, without a doubt. For Iris2 there is a first step. Europe needs to choose available technologies to . . .

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