Ibadan, 26 March 2026. – TTTECH has officially begun work on the ESA ‘Terabit Per Second Ethernet Switch for Constellations with Optical Intersatellite Links’ project, towards reinforcing Europe’s ambition to develop advanced, sovereign space communication technologies.
Carried out under ESA’s ARTES 4.0 program, the project is a major step forward in high-performance networking for next generation satellite constellations. It addresses the growing demand for ultra-high throughput, reliable inter-satellite and intra-satellite payload networking in modern satellite constellations.
Future multi-orbit systems with optical intersatellite links require switching solutions capable of routing massive data volumes while guaranteeing predictable latency, quality of service, and resilience. As such, at the core of the project is the development of a technology-agnostic Ethernet switch chip IP that supports OSI Layer 1 to Layer 3 functionality, optimized for use in inter-satellite communication and regenerative satellite payloads.
TTTECH and its Finnish subsidiary TTTECH Flexibilis Oy will subsequently deliver a complete technology demonstrator and a clear product development roadmap toward future chip level and system level space qualified solutions. More so, the company will be building on its established space Ethernet portfolio and verification infrastructure in its contribution to the project, combining simulation and hardware demonstrators to validate performance and feasibility.
Spanning twelve months, the Terabit project is consequently aiming for a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4, i.e. validation in lab environment, with the project to conclude in the first quarter of next year.
TTTECH’s participation in the project demonstrates the company’s efforts to push the boundaries of Ethernet for space, enable the data-driven satellite architectures of tomorrow, and help strengthen Europe’s position in advanced data networking technologies for space. The project will also extend the company’s space-grade Ethernet expertise into the terabit performance class.
