Fayetteville firm sees high-flying market for laser technology

Technology developed by Fayetteville-based Space Photonics is ready for a marketplace that's increasingly interested in bringing the Internet to the world through the use of satellites, drones and high-altitude balloons.

Space Photonics develops free space optical communication systems which use lasers for aerospace and military applications. It was founded in 1999, and over the years has been awarded more than $20 million in contracts with both NASA and the Department of Defense.

Now it's time to take the company's technology into the private sector through licensing deals, consulting and partnerships, said Chuck Chalfant, president and CEO of Space Photonics. He said he's in talks with companies in California and "back East" about Space Photonics' technology, but he declined to name them.

"We are shifting gears," Chalfant said. "Intellectual property will be our focus."

The company's recently awarded seventh patent focuses on the use of Space Photonics' technology from airborne or spaceborne platforms. In particular, it deals with laser targeting, which Chalfant said is vital for rapid and extremely accurate switching capabilities for Internet routers.

Those routers would be vital parts of systems under development by Google, Facebook and Space X and are intended to bring Internet access to remote areas or areas without infrastructure to support high-speed connectivity.

"They want to develop these devices so they can supply the internet everywhere," Chalfant said. "Our pointing and steering technology is a good solution. The bottom line is the shortest path wins."

In 2013, Google began Project Loon, which would use a network of high-flying balloons that can stay afloat for months at a time, as part of a network to connect people to the Internet. Google also has acquired a drone company.

Facebook is developing a similar system as part of its Internet.org initiative. Facebook's plans are for solar-powered drones, which can stay in flight for years, to make up a good deal of a mobile phone network that would provide basic Internet services around the world. In 2015, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said free space optical communication would be part of his network.

In November, Space X asked the Federal Communications Commission to give the OK to a satellite network that would be used to provide high-speed Internet access worldwide. Plans call for a network of 4,425 satellites, each about the size of a small car. According to the company, the first wave of 1,600 satellites would provide Internet service to the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Google parent company Alphabet has invested in Space X.

In December, OneWeb completed a $1.2 billion investment led by Japan-based SoftBank Group. OneWeb plans on using a network of more than 700 low-earth-orbit satellites to provide Internet access to rural areas around the world. SoftBank Group's $1 billion investment will be used in part to fund a facility in Florida to make satellites rapidly and at low cost. Other investors in OneWeb include the Coca-Cola Co., Qualcomm Inc. and the Virgin Group.

Chalfant said all these projects, and others, could find a use for Space Photonics' developments.

"All these approaches have one thing in common -- the router needs to be well above the earth's surface," Chalfant said. "Also, if they truly want the highest possible capacity or connection speeds, they will ultimately have to use lasers."

SundayMonday Business on 01/15/2017

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