Archangel Lightworks, a laser communications company, has successfully closed over £10 million of investment in a round led by Santander Alternative Investments, with participation from National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF), Blackfinch Ventures, Oxford Capital, Lycka Limited and Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE).

Archangel Lightworks is building a global high-speed data infrastructure to connect networks in space with networks on the ground. The company specialises in deployable Gbps+ and future Tbps+ laser link capacity. Its TERRA-M terminal is a miniature, deployable optical ground station that is designed to help solve some of Earth’s most critical problems, like the Digital Divide, quantum security, and persistent planetary monitoring. By creating a high-volume, secure alternative to existing radio-based data infrastructure, Archangel Lightworks enables distributed space-based connectivity solutions for dual-use challenges.

The need for laser communications technology continues to take off due to legacy difficulties associated with limited data rates, security concerns, and difficulties accessing radio spectrum. The technology is proven between satellites, and high-bandwidth optical communications is already being used to support commercial and defence applications, as well as exploration missions like Artemis II. Orbital data centres and broadband constellations require higher bandwidth links to add utility for their largely terrestrial customer bases. The combination of high-speed, secure optical communication networks with data centres and satellites in orbit paves the way for near-instantaneous processing and distribution of data for users worldwide.

Richard Johanson, CEO of Archangel Lightworks, says: ‘It is an exciting moment for Archangel Lightworks to be able to announce this successful round of capital as the demand for space-based information and connectivity continues to grow exponentially. The Archangel Lightworks team has done incredible work designing, building, and deploying our laser communications systems, and now is the time for us to accelerate with our partners, new and old, to meet the needs that we are hearing from our customers across markets.’ 

Nadir Maruf, Head of Infrastructure and Venture Capital at Santander Alternative Investments, says: ‘We are delighted to partner with the Archangel team and our fellow investors in this exciting and strategically important initiative relating to ground space communication infrastructure. The progress the company was able to achieve thus far was remarkable, and we look forward to working with the company in the years ahead.‘

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