Nyxara Is Developing Laser Technology to Penetrate Clouds
In the field of optical communications, adverse weather conditions such as cloud cover present significant operational challenges. Unlike radio communications, space-to-ground laser links have the potential to greatly enhance both the volume and speed of satellite data downlinks to terrestrial stations, provided that atmospheric conditions are favorable.
Startup Nyxara, founded in 2024 and headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, is addressing these limitations by developing space-based internet services utilizing advanced laser communications hardware capable of functioning effectively through cloud cover.
Founded in 2024 by Gulmohar Ahluwalia, an Australian engineer with experience leading Telstra’s transition from 4G to 5G networks, Nyxara aims to usher in the era of sixth-generation communications. According to Ahluwalia, bridging the gap between rising data demands and current infrastructure requires a substantial technological shift. The company’s objective is to deliver terabit-per-second internet access worldwide via satellite.
Ahluwalia regards the expansion of laser communication technology as inevitable, and identifies the issue of cloud interference as a solvable engineering challenge. Currently, satellite operators rely on relaying data across satellite networks until a clear line-of-sight to a ground station is available, followed by terrestrial transmission, which introduces delays contrary to the low-latency promise of optical systems. Nyxara’s approach enables direct satellite transmission to any global optical ground station, improving data accessibility and permitting site selection based on strategic priorities rather than solely on weather patterns.
Nyxara’s innovation lies in its dual-laser system: the first laser, a powerful “cloud clearing” beam, creates a passage by disrupting water droplets within cloud formations, while a second laser utilizes this channel for high-speed data transfer between satellites in low or geostationary Earth orbit and ground stations. Although the technology is still under development, initial field demonstrations are planned for next year, with gradual testing over extended distances including challenging environments such as cloud-shrouded mountaintops.
The company anticipates commercial deployment within five years, starting with its inaugural cloud-clearing optical ground station, intended as a proof of concept for future partnerships. Interest from telecommunications providers underscores the urgency and relevance of Nyxara’s solution. As Ahluwalia notes, widespread enthusiasm from industry stakeholders at this early stage indicates that overcoming the cloud cover obstacle is a critical concern across the sector.