MALVERN, PA — SpaceRake Inc. and Rajant Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding to test hybrid laser and radio communications systems as defense, industrial, and infrastructure operators seek alternatives to increasingly congested radio-frequency networks.
The companies plan to evaluate how free-space optical, or FSO, communications can integrate with Rajant’s wireless mesh networking technology in operational environments where traditional radio systems face interference, spectrum limitations, or deployment constraints.
The collaboration reflects growing industry interest in non-radio communications technologies as autonomous systems, connected industrial operations, and defense platforms place heavier demands on wireless infrastructure.
Laser communications systems transmit data using focused light beams rather than radio frequencies, allowing networks to bypass spectrum licensing requirements and avoid some forms of electromagnetic interference.
The companies indicated they will conduct joint field tests designed to evaluate performance in rapidly deployable environments where communications reliability is critical.
“As demand grows for reliable connectivity in increasingly complex and contested environments, integrating lasercom technologies with Rajant’s mesh networking expands how and where networks can operate beyond traditional RF constraints,” Rajant Chief Technology Officer Paul Hellhake said.
The agreement also highlights broader investment trends in multi-domain networking technologies capable of supporting military systems, autonomous vehicles, industrial automation, and remote infrastructure operations.
SpaceRake indicated that its laser communications systems are designed to complement existing radio infrastructure rather than replace it, particularly in environments where radio signals are degraded, contested, or oversubscribed.
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