Transcelestial in tie-up with Exclusive Networks for wireless laser communication tech

SPACETECH startup Transcelestial plans to deploy its Internet connectivity technology in 10 markets in the Asia-Pacific through a tie-up with French cybersecurity and digital infrstructure company Exclusive Networks.

The agreement covers the markets of Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Macau, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Exclusive Networks will sell Transcelestial's solutions to their customer base of mobile network operators, Internet service providers and enterprises.

Exclusive Networks, which listed on the Euronext Paris in September, made 231.1 million euros (S$354.5 million) from the Asia-Pacific market in the first 9 months of 2021, with revenue up 14.1 per cent year on year. The region's revenue contributed 13.7 per cent of total group revenue.

Internet connectivity is typically delivered through physical cable networks that are costly and slow to build. Disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic have resulted in delays to roll out fibre cables needed in last-mile connectivity for 5G and home and office broadband.

Transcelestial's technology instead relies on lasers to beam fibre-grade Internet without wires between buildings, cell towers or street-level poles. This is implemented at a fraction of the time and cost of physical fibre cables.

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Eventually, the Singapore-based startup wants to develop a constellation of small satellites in low Earth orbit, allowing their laser network to not only beam across cities but upwards to connect continents across the world as well.

Transcelestial is backed by EDBI, Airbus Ventures, Y Combinator partner Michael Seibel and Singapore government-owned defence investor Cap Vista.