IonQ’s quantum laser comms now on 84 satellites in orbit

IonQ reports that its Skyloom optical communication terminals are now installed on 84 satellites in orbit, creating one of the largest operational laser communication networks in low-Earth orbit. The latest deployment, launched July 16, 2026, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, builds on previous installations supporting the Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. “We’re proud to continue supporting SDA with U.S.-built optical communications technology at scale,” said Jordan Shapiro, IonQ’s President of Quantum Platform. This achievement strengthens the nation’s space-based communications infrastructure for resilient, data-rich networks. Skyloom OCT Deployments Advance SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Architecture With 84 optical communication terminals now operational in low-Earth orbit, IonQ’s Skyloom technology is establishing a substantial presence in space-based data relay. This scale represents one of the largest operational laser communication payload footprints currently available, demonstrating a rapid expansion of the company’s infrastructure, IonQ says. These newly installed terminals build directly on previous deployments initiated in September 2025 as part of the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). The SDA intends these spacecraft to deliver high-throughput, low-latency communications critical for national defense, and all systems are designed to interoperate using SDA’s established optical communication standards. This second deployment of space vehicles equipped with Skyloom OCTs, and the third overall Transport Layer Tranche 1 deployment, nears completion of the PWSA constellation expansion. IonQ highlights that this growing network is designed to support a shift toward higher-throughput optical architectures, providing the foundation for resilient, data-rich mesh networks. Beyond defense applications, IonQ’s broader quantum platform delivers integrated solutions across computing, networking, sensing, and security, with recent advances including a reported 20 times performance increase over previous quantum solutions and a record-setting 99.99 percent two-qubit gate fidelity achieved in 2025. IonQ maintains operations across multiple continents, including facilities in the United States, Europe, and Asia, and offers quantum computing services through major cloud providers. We’re proud to continue supporting SDA with proven, U.S.-built optical communications technology at scale. Jordan Shapiro, President of Quantum Platform at IonQ Source: https://ionq.com/news/ionqs-skyloom-optical-communications-terminals-reach-84-on-orbit-installations-following-latest-launch Stay currentSee today’s quantum computing news on Quantum Zeitgeist for the latest breakthroughs in qubits, hardware, algorithms, and industry deals. Tags: Rusty Flint Rusty is a quantum science nerd. He's been into academic science all his life, but spent his formative years doing less academic things. Now he turns his attention to write about his passion, the quantum realm. He loves all things Quantum Physics especially. Rusty likes the more esoteric side of Quantum Computing and the Quantum world. Everything from Quantum Entanglement to Quantum Physics. Rusty thinks that we are in the 1950s quantum equivalent of the classical computing world. While other quantum journalists focus on IBM's latest chip or which startup just raised $50 million, Rusty's over here writing 3,000-word deep dives on whether quantum entanglement might explain why you sometimes think about someone right before they text you. (Spoiler: it doesn't, but the exploration is fascinating) Latest Posts by Rusty Flint: A micromechanical qubit might last a full second August 24, 2026 QURECA and Oxford spin-out launch quantum lab simulator August 24, 2026 Institute for Molecular Science leads Japan’s first neutral-atom quantum computer August 24, 2026