Amphinicy Technologies has been appointed by the European Space Agency (ESA) as the prime contractor for the ONEST (Optical Ground Station Network Scheduling Testbed), a project under ESA’s ScyLight programdedicated to optical and quantum communications. The initiative aims to strengthen European capabilities in secure, high-throughput satellite communications and lay the groundwork for more efficient and resilient services across the satcom sector.
Developed by the satellite solutions provider SES, Officina Stellare, and Amphinicy Technologies, ONEST will create a modular optical ground station network testbed designed to advance optical and quantum communication technologies. The initiative focuses on interoperability, resource planning, and continuous, efficient operations for the next generation of optical satellite communication networks.
In October 2025, the consortium successfully completed the Preliminary Design Review (PDR), marking a key milestone in the project’s development. The team is now actively working on consolidating the architecture and implementation approach.
Optical Ground Segment: Current State and Industry Challenges
Optical ground segments are an integral part of emerging satellite communications, supporting high-throughput laser downlinks and uplinks, inter-satellite optical networking, and terrestrial endpoints for quantum-secure links. These systems are moving from experimental demonstrations toward operational, networked infrastructures that can interoperate with RF ground systems and cloud platforms.
Optical Ground Stations (OGSs) are being deployed in multiple locations worldwide, with a trend toward geographically distributed networks. This expansion increases contact opportunities but also introduces challenges in scheduling, handovers, and traffic management. Testing data delivery and link handover performance typically requires a network-level environment, which is not always accessible to individual ground stations or subsystem developers.
ONEST: Supporting Optical and Quantum Communication Development
The ONEST (Optical Ground Station Network Scheduling Testbed) platform provides a flexible, modular testbed for optical and quantum communication networks. Its capabilities include
- Onboarding, configuration, and optimization of optical ground station networks
- Automated satellite pass handling and link scheduling
- Performance validation under realistic and emulated satellite scenarios
- Delay-Tolerant Networking (DTN) for reliable end-to-end data delivery
ONEST allows participants to integrate their OGSs and roaming networks, manage interfaces, and test interoperability. By combining link planning, satellite emulation, and network orchestration into a unified framework, the testbed supports the development and evaluation of secure, high-throughput space communication systems and provides an environment for testing and validation.
At the end of 2026, a one-year demonstration period will begin at the SES teleport facility in Redu, Belgium, during which the ONEST testbed will be made available to potential end users. Throughout this period, the platform will allow external users to explore and test its capabilities under realistic operational conditions, paving the way for future optical and quantum communication services.
Delivering the Software Backbone with Monica M&C
As prime contractor, Amphinicy Technologies brings more than 25 years of expertise in satellite ground segment software engineering to the project. Amphinicy’s Monica solution — a monitoring and control system for antenna networks — serves as the software backbone of ONEST, enabling:
- Centralized automation and control
- Real-time ground station monitoring
- Telemetry visualization, alerting, and logging
- Link scheduling and DTN data transfer management
“Leading the ONEST project allows Amphinicy Technologies to apply our accumulated knowledge and expertise in satellite ground segment as a key step in the evolution of optical and quantum communications,” says Frane Miloš, CEO at Amphinicy Luxembourg, adding “We are proud to be working with our partners to enhance the efficiency, resilience, and security of European satellite communications.”
Learn more about the ONEST project