In a push to expand its “Internet for Space” infrastructure across the Atlantic, Toronto-based Kepler Communications has named Kongsberg NanoAvionics its preferred European satellite bus provider for optically-connected missions.
By integrating Kepler’s optical data relay network, NanoAvionics can now offer its customers real-time connectivity with speeds of up to 2.5 Gbps, effectively bringing “Internet-like” performance to the European commercial space sector.
The agreement is a non-exclusive preferential partnership and covers hosted payload initiatives aboard spacecraft up to 500kg in mass.
These optical capabilities will first be available on NanoAvionics’ MP42 microsatellite bus, followed later by their CubeSat platforms, “using different Optical Inter-Satellite Links (OISL).”
In a press release the partnership is also aimed at European “satellite operators seeking to transition to faster and more secure optical communications built on the US Space Development Agency’s (SDA) standards.”
Kepler added, “As the Kepler Network scales to 100 Gbps-class capacity with its next tranche of satellites, NanoAvionics will receive priority consideration, subject to availability and mutually agreed commercial terms, to access higher data rates, ensuring its platforms remain at the forefront of next-generation mission performance.”
Atle Wøllo, CEO of NanoAvionics, said: “Through this cooperation with Kepler, we are positioning NanoAvionics at the forefront of the industry’s adoption of optical communications. It allows us to offer transmission technology that is becoming essential for timely decision-making. This industry-wide move can provide an exponential boost for sovereign national security missions and for commercial operators serving time-sensitive data for civil, commercial, and security needs.”
Mina Mitry, CEO and Co-Founder of Kepler Communications added, “NanoAvionics has earned a reputation for being one of the most reliable bus providers, helping customers with demanding mission requirements scale quickly and with confidence. This collaboration accelerates the shift toward space systems that operate in real time and on demand. By integrating our optical network and on-orbit compute services with NanoAvionics’ platforms, we are enabling the transformation of space from a store-and-forward model to a responsive environment that supports time-critical, dynamically tasked missions.”
Kepler successfully launched the first tranche of 10 satellites for its optical data relay constellation on Jan. 11, 2026.