Europe Commissioned Greece’s Holomondas Optical Ground Station for Satellite Laser Communications

On 18 May 2026, ESA and the Greek Ministry of Digital Governance announced that the Holomondas Optical Ground Station (OGS) in northern Greece is now operational. Built by Astrolight with the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), the station will receive data from the Greek CubeSats PeakSat and ERMIS-3 via infrared laser links.

Optical Communication Boosted by New Greek Ground StationThe Register UKAstrolight and ESA Unveil Operational Optical Ground Station in Greece for Satellite Laser Links – SatNews

The OGS supports the PeakSat mission, part of ESA’s Greek Connectivity Programme funded by the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility. Astrolight supplied the ground-segment optical core and ATLAS-1 terminals for the satellites. AUTh, led by Professor Kleomenis Tsiganis, handled site conversion and scientific oversight. ESA’s project manager Frederic Rouesnel coordinated the effort, with co-sponsorship from the Greek Ministry of Digital Governance.

Optical Communication Boosted by New Greek Ground Station

Holomondas uses an 808-nm laser beacon and a C-band receiver capable of 2.5 Gbps downlink. The narrow infrared beam offers data rates up to 100 times higher than RF links and is intrinsically jam-resistant. Integrated calibration maintains alignment despite temperature changes and mechanical motion.

Astrolight and ESA Unveil Operational Optical Ground Station in Greece for Satellite Laser Links – SatNews

Shifting satellite-to-Earth communications to laser frees congested RF spectrum and improves security for civilian and defence users. ESA views the station as a step toward a resilient, high-capacity mesh linking space-based data centres, supporting European technological sovereignty and reducing dependence on single-provider constellations such as Starlink.

Optical Communication Boosted by New Greek Ground Station

ESA and the Greek Ministry called the commissioning a milestone for the Greek Connectivity Programme, noting its role in building a secure, high-throughput European network. ESA’s project manager said the station “marks an important step towards enabling faster, more secure, and resilient connectivity, while strengthening Greece’s role within Europe’s expanding optical communications ecosystem.” Astrolight CEO Laurynas Maciulis said the project meets rising satellite-bandwidth demand and the need for space networking, including dual-use defence uses.

Optical Communication Boosted by New Greek Ground Station

• “one of the enabling technologies for further expansion into space.” — Laurynas Maciulis, CEO, Astrolight

The Register UK

• “There is a need for networking in space, both for connectivity and tactical reasons, and dual-use defense applications,” — Laurynas Maciulis, CEO, Astrolight

The Register UK

• “Holomondas is moving closer to becoming an internationally recognised optical communication hub and contributing to the future global network of optical ground stations,” — Kleomenis Tsiganis, Professor, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Optical Communication Boosted by New Greek Ground Station

• “ He added "there's also sovereignty aspects, which means that there will never be a single player – there cannot be just Starlink." ®” — Laurynas Maciulis, CEO, Astrolight

The Register UK

Following verification, the programme will convert the Helmos and Skinakas observatories into additional optical stations. Linked to European quantum-key-distribution projects, they will provide weather-resilient redundancy, rerouting data when clouds block a link. The plan envisions a Mediterranean-wide optical network supporting larger satellite constellations and broader data-relay services.

Astrolight and ESA Unveil Operational Optical Ground Station in Greece for Satellite Laser Links – SatNews