Kepler Communications closes $92 million Series C to grow real-time satellite data transmission network

Toronto-based startup Kepler Communications closed one other slice of capital to proceed constructing its orbital information community.

The brand new funding, which has reached $92 million, can be used to launch a constellation of optical communications satellites subsequent 12 months. These satellites will be part of Kepler’s current community of 19 radio-frequency satellites working in sun-synchronous orbits (SSO). Two extra satellites are scheduled to affix this constellation with the launch of SpaceX’s Transporter-7 mission subsequent week.

In response to Kepler’s web site, the brand new optical relay community will transmit information to satellites in low Earth orbit at 2.5 Gbps. The corporate plans to deploy optical communications satellites in “two shut vertical planes” in SSO to make sure steady connectivity. The community infrastructure will act as Web change factors for in-space information switch, just like the change of web site visitors on Earth, enabling real-time information transfers between the spacecraft and Earth.

The brand new funding was led by IA Ventures, which has invested in Kepler since its preliminary spherical in 2016. Different taking part buyers embrace Costanoa Ventures, Canaan Companions, Tribe Capital and BDC Capital’s Industrial Innovation Enterprise Fund. Kepler has raised over $200 million thus far.

“Exponentially declining launch prices are making area extra accessible than ever earlier than, however connectivity exterior Earth remains to be pricey, difficult and inconsistent,” IA Ventures normal companion Brad Gillespie mentioned in a press release. He added that the community gives connections between beings in area and on Earth, and “sometime to Mars and past.”

Kepler will launch two satellites this 12 months to check and validate its optical communications expertise. Along with satellites, Kepler operates its personal floor stations and in-house satellite tv for pc manufacturing services.