Endeavour Optical Networks raises $10.75M to build space laser links

In short: Endeavour Optical Networks (EON) raised $10.75 million to build satellites that use lasers to move data between continents.

What happened

Endeavour Optical Networks is a startup founded in May. It said it is coming out of “stealth,” meaning it was working quietly before talking publicly. The company announced $10.75 million in seed funding, led by General Catalyst and Andreessen Horowitz.

EON’s plan is to put laser communication equipment on spacecraft, then use those satellites to connect data centers in different parts of the world. Data centers are large buildings full of computers that store and process online information. Today, most long-distance internet traffic relies on undersea fiber optic cables (physical cables on the ocean floor that carry data as light).

The company says it is aiming for 2.4 terabits per second of data speed to start. That is far more than the laser links some other companies have demonstrated so far, according to TechCrunch. One challenge is that the atmosphere, especially clouds, can weaken or block a laser signal, like trying to shine a flashlight through fog.

EON says it plans to build about 20 satellites. It also plans to pick ground stations in multiple regions and use backup locations and weather data to keep connections reliable. The company hopes to launch a demo satellite around the end of 2027.

Why it matters

As AI labs and big cloud companies move more information between continents, broken or hard-to-repair undersea cables can cause problems. If EON’s approach works, it could offer another route for important traffic, like adding an extra bridge when a main highway is crowded or closed.

Source: TechCrunch AI