Kepler Communications to Build Optical Space Data, Internet Relay Network

Robert Conrad, the vice president of U.S. business development for Kepler Communications U.S., said the company is developing an optical space data relay that would bring internet connectivity and high-bandwidth, low-latency data transport to space.

In an interview with Breaking Defense, Conrad, a 4×24 member, said The Kepler Network is compatible with the Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture and will enable interoperability between commercial and government architectures. According to Kepler, interoperability would ensure that warfighters will have access to commercially available data and that companies could connect their remote sensing satellites to the network.

Conrad shared that the network is expected to become operational in 2025, Breaking Defense reported Monday.

Other companies are also developing space-based internet and communications under government contracts.

In October, Northrop Grumman secured a U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory contract to integrate commercial space internet connectivity on airborne platforms. Space-based connectivity is expected to facilitate secure data sharing and global operations.

In September, AFRL awarded SES Space & Defense a contract to support the Defense Experimentation Using Commercial Space Internet program, which uses commercial internet constellations to establish communications with military platforms.