EON Aims to Shift the Data Superhighway from Ocean Fiber Optics to Space-Based Laser Technology

As major tech companies expand their global data center networks, they face the challenge of transferring vast amounts of information, which often depends on a fragile system of underwater fiber-optic cables traversing the oceans.

Installing, accessing, and repairing these cables is complex and challenging. While alternatives exist, such as radio transmissions, they typically lack the necessary bandwidth, eliminating many possible wireless options. However, laser technology might offer a solution.

Endeavor Optical Networks, a newly established startup that has recently emerged from stealth mode, has secured $10.75 million in seed funding from General Catalyst and Andreessen Horowitz. Co-founders Charlie Horowitz and Tyler Presser aim to develop a network of laser-equipped satellites to connect data centers from space.

Currently, most satellite communication networks, including those for broadband internet, cannot handle speeds exceeding 200 terabits per second, which is required to match the capacity of undersea fiber-optic cables.

However, advancements in satellite technology and optical communications are making it increasingly viable to establish laser-based connections. NASA successfully used laser communications during its latest Moon mission, and several private companies, such as York, Kepler, and Cailabs, have begun demonstrating communication links between Earth’s orbit and surface.

These demonstrations have typically aimed for a data throughput of around 2.5 Gbps; however, Endeavor Optical Networks plans to target a much more ambitious goal of 2.4 terabits per second. Achieving this will require innovative solutions to address atmospheric distortion, especially during inclement weather.

The startup intends to deploy a constellation of roughly 20 satellites, with each satellite designed to provide a dedicated link between two continents, ensuring 24-hour service for initial clients. Ground stations will be strategically located to serve various local data centers and content delivery networks, utilizing redundancy and weather data to maintain reliable connections.

The company is already engaging with major tech firms and AI laboratories as potential clients, targeting routes that are underserved or costly, such as long connections from France to Australia, or those with limited existing infrastructure, like crossings from Africa to South America. Endeavor Optical Networks aims to sell dedicated capacity to attract customers looking for control over their data transport.

To begin its operations effectively, the startup will invest its seed funding to establish an optics laboratory, recruit additional engineers, and conduct ground testing prior to launching a demonstration satellite, which they anticipate will take place by late 2027. Horowitz believes this satellite will achieve one of the highest optical downlink throughputs recorded, reaching at least 800 Gbps and possibly up to a terabit.

Executing this plan demands meticulous engineering; Endeavor Optical Networks will concentrate on developing the optical communications terminals, investing wisely in crucial components, such as precision gimbals for laser aiming. They plan to acquire robust satellite buses from suppliers like Apex Space, where Horowitz previously worked.

Horowitz has strong endorsements from industry leaders, with Ian Cinnamon, CEO of Apex Space, praising him as an exceptional founder capable of navigating both strategic and technical challenges. The company’s technical team boasts seasoned experts, including PhD astronautical engineers and former Google executives focused on global networking.

Jeannette zu Fürstenburg, the General Catalyst partner who led the funding round, sees Endeavor Optical Networks bridging two critical investment themes: AI and system resilience. She expressed confidence in the demand for such services and emphasized the team’s capability to execute their vision in a timely manner.

Endeavor Optical Networks isn’t the only entity pursuing advancements in this field. Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’ aerospace company, has announced its ambitious TeraWave project, a network of 5,048 satellites designed to provide speeds up to 6 Tbps. While more expansive, Blue Origin’s approach will require more time for deployment compared to Endeavor’s more focused satellite array, which aims to address similar technological challenges.

Caleb Henry, Quilty Space’s research director, pointed out the high expectations for quality and reliability from data centers. Although satellite internet is evolving from a last-resort technology to a trustworthy, high-bandwidth solution, modifying satellites specifically for data center connectivity presents significant challenges that may take longer than anticipated.

Nevertheless, Endeavor Optical Networks believes its project is more feasible compared to the increasingly popular concept of establishing data centers in space. Horowitz notes that their approach is market-driven, addressing existing needs rather than speculative futures. He anticipates that the demand for terrestrial data transport will only continue to grow.