SES And Airbus To Build Optical Ground Station In The Netherlands For Europe’s First Quantum Satellite

SES and Airbus Netherlands have signed a ground lease agreement with the Dutch municipality of Noordwijk to build an optical ground station that will communicate with Europe’s first quantum key distribution satellite, EAGLE-1.

The facility will be located at the NL Space Campus, adjacent to the European Space Agency’s (ESA) technical centre ESTEC. Once operational, the station will receive quantum-safe encryption keys transmitted via laser link from the EAGLE-1 satellite in orbit.

The ground lease agreement was signed between SES, Airbus Netherlands B.V. and the municipality of Noordwijk, with ground-breaking attended by Noordwijk Alderman Pim van Strien, Airbus Netherlands President and Managing Director Rob Postma, and SES Techcom Managing Director Alan Kuresevic.

What The Station Will Do

The optical ground station will serve as the primary ground connection for the EAGLE-1 system, which SES manages in a public-private partnership with ESA and the European Commission.

Unlike traditional satellite communications that rely on radio frequencies, EAGLE-1 uses laser beams to transmit security keys between the satellite and the ground station. This approach is designed to establish secure communications over long distances using quantum technology.

The station will consist of a control room alongside a dome housing a precision telescope capable of tracking satellites for the laser link. To maintain the accuracy of the laser connection, the station will be equipped with optics that correct for real-time atmospheric distortions, including turbulence caused by air movement and temperature fluctuations.

“The optical ground station will serve as the primary ground connection for the EAGLE-1 system managed by SES in a public-private partnership with ESA and the European Commission,” SES Chief Product and Innovation Officer Xavier Bertran explained.

“Once operational, the system will allow early adoption of the quantum-safe technology by users such as government and banking sector, enabling next-generation cybersecurity.”

Europe’s First Quantum Key Distribution Satellite

EAGLE-1 is positioned as Europe’s first satellite to demonstrate end-to-end secure communication based on quantum technology. The system comprises a satellite, a ground network and a laser connection, and represents the first step in developing a European system for Quantum Key Distribution (QKD).

QKD uses the properties of quantum physics to generate and distribute encryption keys. Because any attempt to intercept a quantum-encrypted key alters its state and is therefore detectable, the technology is considered resistant to the code-breaking capabilities of future quantum computers – a concern that is driving investment in quantum-safe communications globally.

The EAGLE-1 project is intended to give European governments, financial institutions and other security-sensitive organisations early access to quantum-safe encryption before full-scale operational systems are deployed.

Technical Partners

Airbus is building the ground station for SES, but the technical implementation draws on a broader group of specialised partners.

TNO, the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, is the prime contractor for the station and is also responsible for the optics systems. FSO Instruments is delivering the sensor, while Airbus Netherlands is handling the real-time control system.

Italian company Officina Stellare is supplying the telescope and dome, and Celestia STS is responsible for the optical digital modem that will handle the laser communication link.

Quantum Security Context

The investment in quantum-safe satellite communications reflects growing concern across governments and the private sector about the long-term security of current encryption methods. Conventional encryption algorithms that underpin much of today’s digital infrastructure could be vulnerable to quantum computers once the technology matures.

Satellite-based QKD offers an alternative path for distributing encryption keys that does not rely on ground-based fibre optic networks, which can be tapped, and is not vulnerable to the mathematical attacks that quantum computers could mount against conventional encryption.

SES operates a fleet of multi-orbit satellites and a global terrestrial network. The Luxembourg-headquartered company expanded its operations following its acquisition of Intelsat. Further information is available at www.ses.com.

Last Updated on July 15, 2026 by Nick Ross