(Alliance News) - Officina Stellare Spa announced that it has signed a contract with Thales Alenia Space Italia - a joint venture between Thales SA 67 percent and Leonardo Spa 33 percent - to develop a space quantum optical terminal as part of the Italian Space Agency's "Optical Roadmap" program.

The program is intended to enhance the strategic value of quantum communications from low orbit to the Earth's surface.

The contract, which has a duration of 36 months and a total value of about EUR3 million, split between Officina Stellare, which is competed by about EUR1.8 million, and its subsidiary ThinkQuantum Srl, which is competed by about EUR1.2 million, and disbursed about 55 percent in the first year, 35 percent in the second and the remainder in the last 12 months, also sees the involvement of the American company Skyloom Global Corp, a pioneer in multi-orbit space data transport services and laser communication technologies, with which Officina Stellare signed an important strategic partnership last October, which will contribute to the development of the terminal.

"The signed agreement confirms Officina Stellare's growth in the optical and quantum telecommunications market, a segment that complements its core segment for the design and development of high- and very high-resolution space telescopes for Earth Observation, where the company has a leading position to screwed projects and international partnerships," said Officina Stellare.

"The group, in line with the industrial roadmap, is growing both in the ground segment, thanks to the capabilities of providing complete and large-diameter optical stations, and in the space and satellite segment, an area that will see the contribution of the partnership with Skyloom Global Corp."

By Giuseppe Fabio Ciccomascolo, Alliance News senior reporter

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