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.