Officina Stellare SpA ,a leader in the design and manufacture of advanced optomechanical systems across the Aerospace, Scientific Research, and Defense sectors and Skyloom Global Corp (“Skyloom”), an American innovator in multi‑orbit space data transport and laser communications — have formalized a strategic collaboration via the signature of a Technology & License Agreement and a Teaming Agreement. This partnership launches the Skyloom Europe Project, a joint initiative that promises to reshape optical communications across Europe’s civil and defense sectors.

A Strategic Alliance to Propel Europe’s Optical Communications

Following prior announcements on October 8, 2024, Officina Stellare and Skyloom have now committed to collaborate on commercializing high-end optical communication technologies and services under a unified “Skyloom Europe” brand. Their approach encompasses two key pillars:

1. Establishment of a NewCo in Italy — fully owned by Officina Stellare — to serve as the operative entity for the European rollout.
2. Construction of a large-scale production facility, dedicated to manufacturing next-generation optical communication terminals, with a particular emphasis on quantum-safe encrypted links.

The overarching objective: to accelerate the deployment of secure, high-throughput optical links in space-to-space, ground-to-space, and airborne domains, while enhancing Europe’s autonomy in critical communications infrastructure.

Mission and Scope of the Project

The new manufacturing facility will specialize in producing optical communication terminals intended for:

• Intersatellite links (space-to-space),
• Ground-to-space uplinks/downlinks, and
• Airborne platforms, including manned and unmanned systems.

These terminals will incorporate quantum key distribution (QKD) encryption and other advanced technologies to ensure data security in contested environments — essentials in both civilian and defense sectors.

The production setup is designed to support multi-orbit satellite networks, enabling integration with Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), and Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) constellations. In so doing, Skyloom Europe aims to strengthen Europe’s supply chain independence in optical communications.

The facility will be located in the Veneto region, conveniently close to the headquarters of Officina Stellare, in order to leverage synergies in engineering, production, and logistics.

From Proven Model to a European Version

The design and operations of the new facility will be modeled after Skyloom’s successful manufacturing operations in the United States, which currently serve the U.S. Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture as well as diverse commercial and government customers. By replicating this effective business model in Europe, the partners aim to match global standards of production quality, scalability, and reliability.

While initially manufacturing proven technologies, the facility will progressively invest in in‑house R&D, with the goal of advancing next-generation secure optical communications — for example, quantum-enabled free-space optical systems. These initiatives build upon the existing collaborative research efforts between Officina Stellare and Skyloom.

The market opportunity is significant: by 2031, demand could reach ~60,000 terminals, representing a market value of €12 billion. Beyond civilian use, there is strong demand from defense agencies for secure tactical communications, and from emerging suborbital platforms (e.g. high-altitude drones, crewed/uncrewed aircraft) requiring optical links.

Vision: From Manufacturer to Connectivity Provider

Although the immediate goal is to establish Skyloom Europe as a major supplier of optical communication hardware, the medium-term ambition is to evolve it into a full-service provider of high-performance, secure telecommunications and connectivity solutions. In practice, this would mean offering optical data transport services, network management, and end-to-end solutions — not just products.

By doing so, NewCo will play a central role in closing strategic gaps in Europe’s supply chain and elevating the continent’s autonomy in key space and communications infrastructure.

Voices from Leadership

“With great satisfaction, we mark this pivotal moment,” said Gino Bucciol, Vice President and Chief of Business Development at Officina Stellare. “This achievement underscores both the dynamic expansion of the optical communications market and the intensifying interest from European governments and institutions in deploying sovereign infrastructure amid shifting global geopolitics. The new entity, branded Skyloom Europe, is poised to transform airborne and space connectivity across European civil and defense sectors. It will deliver increased security, speed, and accessibility in satellite communications, addressing critical needs in domains such as defense and SATCOM. Our lasercom‑focused company is a natural extension of Officina Stellare’s success in communications technologies.”

Commenting further, Giovanni Dal Lago, Executive Chairman at Officina Stellare, asserted: “Entering the in‑orbit telecommunications space is a monumental leap for our firm. With Skyloom Europe, we are broadening our horizons beyond traditional aerospace and defense markets to position ourselves at the cutting edge of secure, next-generation connectivity. This strategic move boosts our credentials as a European technology leader and accelerates our growth trajectory in one of the most exciting sectors of the future.”

From Skyloom’s side, Eric Moltzau, Chief Commercial Officer, added: “The formation of Skyloom Europe represents a strategic inflection point for our global expansion. Through partnership with Officina Stellare, we combine world-class engineering, advanced optical and quantum technologies, and regional know-how to accelerate deployment of secure, high-throughput communications across Europe. This venture enhances the European Economic Area’s supply chain, fosters opportunities for co-development projects, and paves the way for further collaboration in next-generation space and airborne networks. For our strategic partners, Skyloom Europe acts as a high-leverage gateway into one of the fastest-growing sectors of the space economy.”

Strategic Significance and Broader Implications

The Skyloom Europe Project is notable for a number of reasons:

• Geopolitical sovereignty: As Europe seeks to reduce dependence on non-European suppliers for critical communications infrastructure, this project advances continental autonomy in laser-based communications.
• Technological leadership: By anchoring production and innovation on European soil, Skyloom Europe will promote technological leadership in optical communication and quantum-safe encryption.
• Market potential: The project targets a rapidly growing sector where demand for high-throughput, secure space communications is increasing fast — both from commercial players (e.g. satellite operators, broadband providers) and government agencies (defense, intelligence, civil space).
• Supply chain resilience: A European manufacturing base reduces the vulnerability of cross-border logistics and trade constraints, improving the resilience of the optical communications value chain.
• Path to services: The transition from hardware manufacturer to full-service connectivity provider positions Skyloom Europe to capture greater value across the ecosystem — from terminal sales to long-term service contracts.

Challenges and Path Forward

Of course, the path ahead is ambitious and will require navigating multiple challenges:

1. Investment and scale: Establishing a high-capacity manufacturing facility with rigorous quality and throughput standards demands significant capital investment and careful scaling.
2. Talent and expertise: Optical communications, laser systems, and quantum key distribution are highly specialized fields. Recruiting and retaining top-tier engineers, scientists, and production experts in Europe is critical.
3. Certification, regulation and export controls: Operating in defense and space sectors involves regulatory compliance, export licensing, and security clearances — especially when dealing with encryption technologies. The partners must manage these legal and policy frameworks carefully.
4. Competition and market entry: As the optical communications domain grows in importance, competition is intensifying. Skyloom Europe must differentiate through quality, security, and integrated services to succeed.
5. R&D pace and innovation: Staying at the cutting edge of quantum communication and optics will require continuous investment in research and the agility to bring new solutions from lab into production.

Still, with the complementary strengths of Officina Stellare and Skyloom, the alliance is well positioned to meet these challenges. Officina Stellare brings deep European domain knowledge, established presence in optomechanical systems, and proximity to European institutions. Skyloom contributes its experience in multi-orbit networking, laser communication operational heritage, and a proven factory model in the U.S.

Outlook and Expectations

Over the next few years, the Skyloom Europe initiative is expected to proceed along sequential phases:

1. Design and setup: Finalizing engineering transfer, laying out the production facility in Veneto, and establishing R&D infrastructure.
2. Ramp-up and pilot production: Producing and qualifying initial batches of optical terminals, demonstrating performance with partner satellites, and validating QKD-capable links.
3. Market entry and scaling: Launching commercial and government contracts across Europe, including defense, space agencies, and commercial satellite operators.
4. Service expansion: Gradually building the back-end infrastructure to support connectivity services, network management, and full optical data transport offerings.
5. Innovation and next-gen leap: Rolling out new generations of terminals and systems leveraging quantum communication, integrated photonics, and advanced modulation schemes.

If the forecast of ~60,000 units by 2031 holds, and the market value approaches €12 billion, Skyloom Europe could capture a substantial share, especially as Europe prioritizes sovereign supply chains and secure communication infrastructure.

Conclusion

The Technology & License Agreement and Teaming Agreement between Officina Stellare SpA and Skyloom Global Corp mark more than just a business partnership — they inaugurate a transformative leap in Europe’s optical communications capability. By founding a dedicated NewCo and building a European manufacturing and R&D base, this alliance seeks to bring resilience, sovereignty, and cutting-edge technology to European space, aerospace, and defense stakeholders.

Skyloom Europe is tasked not only with supplying state-of-the-art optical terminals but with evolving into a full-fledged connectivity provider, delivering secure laser-based communications services across Europe and beyond. The combined competencies of Officina Stellare and Skyloom — from engineering, production, operations, and strategic vision — offer strong potential to fulfill this ambition.

As the global competition for secure, high-throughput optical networks in space intensifies, Skyloom Europe could emerge as a key pillar in Europe’s strategic infrastructure, enabling a future where quantum-safe links and laser-based connectivity are integral to defense, science, and commercial missions alike.

About Skyloom

Skyloom Global Corp. is a Broomfield, Colorado-based telecommunications innovator founded with the mission to develop, deploy, and operate one of the fundamental pieces of tomorrow’s space-based telecommunication infrastructure for the provision of data transport services on a planetary scale. They leverage deep heritage in space optical communications networking technologies to enable real time data transfer so that customers and decision makers can leverage perishable information.

To learn more, please visit: www.skyloom.co

About Officina Stellare

Officina Stellare is an Italian leading name specialized in the design and manufacture of high-technology optomechanical system instrumentation for the Aerospace, Scientific Research, and Defense-related domains. Officina Stellare aims to be the global point of reference for the delivery of integrated engineering systems and solutions that may allow individuals to accelerate knowledge of the Earth and the Universe, improve and make connectivity between people and machines safer and enhance the possibilities of defense and protection of sensitive information and data.

To learn more, please visit: www.officinastellare.com

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