Skyloom

Skyloom is an American space telecommunications company that describes itself as "Earth's first space-based telecommunications company." Founded in April 2017, the company is developing optical, laser-based data transport services designed to move large volumes of data to, across, and from space. Its core proposition is to replace the bandwidth-constrained radio-frequency links that dominate spaceborne communications with high-capacity optical connections, which it markets as a way to break the data bottleneck for satellite operators, governments, and commercial constellations. Skyloom's services are built around optical data relay: secure, high-capacity bidirectional links for satellite-to-satellite and satellite-to-Earth transmissions, combined with intelligent on-orbit routing so that information reaches its destination efficiently. The company emphasizes an end-to-end optical chain from the point of data collection all the way to cloud providers or APIs, aiming to deliver data from space to the cloud in seconds. It engineers and develops its services and solutions in-house, maintaining control over cost, schedule, quality, and performance. The company opened its first headquarters in Oakland, California, in January 2020, and later opened a new headquarters and manufacturing facility in Boulder, Colorado, in March 2023. Skyloom has worked with the U.S. Space Development Agency on Tranche 0 transport work beginning in October 2020, and has received multiple Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) awards for space-based laser communications, airborne laser communications, and a direct-to-Phase-Two 10 Gbps laser communications terminal. In June 2021, its U.S. government terminal was successfully tested at the Naval Research Lab. In March 2023, Skyloom reached space with its first optical communication terminal in low Earth orbit, and in late 2024 its first optical geostationary node was launched. Skyloom positions itself at the center of what it calls the "space renaissance," arguing that by the end of the decade millions of petabytes per year of data will need to be transmitted to, across, and from space. Its planetary-scale data transport services are marketed as increasing bandwidth, availability, and resiliency while lowering latency and overall operational costs. The company remains privately held and is based in Boulder, Colorado.

Skyloom was founded in April 2017 with the goal of building orbital infrastructure for what it calls "fiberless internet" — optical data transport at planetary scale. The company's premise is that spaceborne communications remain stuck in a bandwidth-limited "dial-up era" even as businesses and governments rapidly expand satellite constellations and add new industrial and communication applications. Skyloom argues that satellite data needs to be received and acted on immediately, and that optical links can provide the necessary speed and availability in low Earth orbit. In January 2020, Skyloom opened its first headquarters in Oakland, California. Later that year, in October 2020, the company began work on the U.S. Space Development Agency's Tranche 0 Transport program, an early government engagement that helped establish its credentials in optical communications for defense and civil space applications. Skyloom's technology development advanced through a series of U.S. government awards and tests. In April 2021, it received a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award for space-based laser communications. In June 2021, its U.S. government terminal was successfully tested at the Naval Research Lab. In November 2021, it received another SBIR award, this time for airborne laser communications. In January 2022, it was awarded an SBIR Direct-to-Phase-Two for a 10 Gbps laser communications terminal, indicating progress toward higher-throughput optical links. The company also pursued partnerships. In September 2022, Skyloom and SpaceCompass signed a term sheet, signaling collaboration in the space communications sector. In March 2023, Skyloom achieved two significant milestones: it sent its first optical communication terminal to space in low Earth orbit, and it opened a new headquarters and manufacturing facility in Boulder, Colorado. The Boulder facility represented a consolidation of the company's operations and a commitment to in-house engineering and production, which Skyloom says allows it to maintain cost, schedule, quality, and performance. In late 2024, Skyloom launched its first optical geostationary node, extending its ambitions from low Earth orbit toward multi-orbit, end-to-end optical data transport. The company continues to market its services as a way to move data from the point of collection to cloud providers or APIs in seconds, serving satellite operators, governments, and commercial constellations. As of the available evidence, Skyloom remains a privately held company headquartered in Boulder, Colorado.

• Skyloom founded

• Oakland HQ opened

• Space Development Agency Tranche 0 Transport work begins

• Skyloom awarded SBIR Award (Space-Based Laser Communications)

• Skyloom's US Government terminal successfully tested at Naval Research Lab

• Skyloom awarded SBIR Award (Airborne Laser Communications)

• Skyloom awarded SBIR Award Direct-to-Phase-Two 10 Gbps Laser Communications Terminal

• Skyloom and SpaceCompass sign term sheet

• Skyloom goes to space with first optical communication terminal in LEO

• Skyloom opens new HQ and manufacturing facility in Boulder, CO

• First Skyloom optical geostationary node launched

Skyloom positions itself as Earth's first space-based telecommunications company, offering planetary-scale optical data transport that increases bandwidth, availability, and resiliency while lowering latency and cost compared with traditional spaceborne radio-frequency communications.

• Optical data relay services

  Secure, high-capacity bidirectional optical connections for satellite-to-satellite and satellite-to-Earth transmissions, with intelligent on-orbit routing.

• 10 Gbps laser communications terminal

  A high-throughput laser communications terminal developed under a direct-to-Phase-Two SBIR award.

• Optical geostationary node

  First launched in late 2024, extending Skyloom's optical network to geostationary orbit.

1. 1Skyloom | Space Lasers & Planetary-Scale Networksskyloom.co
2. 2Skyloom | Aboutskyloom.co
3. 3Skyloom - Wikidatawikidata.org