Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 20 DECEMBER 2024

Breaking New Ground In Optical Communications!

Baker Botts L.L.P.
Baker Botts L.L.P.
Contributor
Baker Botts L.L.P.

Baker Botts L.L.P.

Baker Botts is a leading international law firm with 11 offices located in the US, Europe, and the...

View firm profile
Explore more from Baker Botts L.L.P.

In 2023, NASA achieved a massive leap in data transmission — 200 gigabits per second using laser technology from space!

United StatesMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Jonathan Gordon
Jonathan Gordon

In 2023, NASA achieved a massive leap in data transmission — 200 gigabits per second using laser technology from space! Optical communications are rapidly transforming how we share data.

This breakthrough promises faster, more secure data transfers and is set to revolutionize industries, from defense to real-time global connectivity.

Big shifts are coming!

From a satellite in space, the agency fired a tiny laser back to Earth which transmitted a huge amount of data: 200 gigabits per second, the highest data rate ever achieved by optical communications technology. This transmission rate enabled the transfer of 3.6 terabytes of data to Earth in just 6 minutes. For comparison, the $10bn state of the art James Webb telescope, launched in 2021, can only transmit around 57 gigabytes of scientific data per day. And the reason Nasa could transmit so much data, so quickly, was because it used light (optical communication), rather than the traditional radio frequency

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

California Requires Disclosure Of AI-Generated People In Advertising

California has enacted a groundbreaking AI disclosure law requiring advertisers to clearly identify when synthetic performers appear in their marketing materials. The legislation, set to take effect in 2027, includes a private right of enforcement that could potentially open the door to class action litigation against brands using AI-generated performers without proper disclosure.
United StatesMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Foley Hoag LLP
Foley Hoag LLP
Article

FCC Tightens Equipment Rules

The Federal Communications Commission has adopted sweeping new restrictions targeting equipment containing components from entities on its Covered List, fundamentally reshaping how manufacturers, online marketplaces, and equipment modifiers must approach FCC compliance. These rules establish unprecedented prohibitions on logic-bearing hardware components, impose strict display requirements for e-commerce platforms, and clarify when existing authorizations can support equipment modifications.
United StatesMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Steptoe LLP
Steptoe LLP
Article

California Signs Landmark Online Child Safety Package

California has enacted the nation's most comprehensive online child safety legislation, banning addictive social media features for minors under 16, establishing strict companion chatbot regulations, and imposing enhanced civil penalties for platforms that harm children. Companies operating social media platforms or chatbots accessible to California children must now assess their products, audit features, and prepare compliance programs ahead of the laws' effective dates.
United StatesMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Davis+Gilbert LLP
Davis+Gilbert LLP
Article

Nationwide EAS Test Coming November 17, 2026

FEMA and the FCC will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System on November 17, 2026, requiring participation from all radio and television stations, cable systems, and satellite services. EAS Participants must file three separate forms through the EAS Test Reporting System, with specific deadlines ranging from October 30, 2026, through January 2027. Certain translator and repeater stations are exempt from the registration and filing requirements.
United StatesMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Wiley Rein
Wiley Rein
Article

The Next Chapter Of Digital Accessibility: FCC Seeks Input On Modernizing Its Rules

The Federal Communications Commission is seeking public feedback on modernizing its accessibility framework to address rapid changes in consumer technology. The draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking examines whether existing rules keep pace with today's communications marketplace or inadvertently hinder innovation in accessibility solutions.
United StatesMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Hogan Lovells Cadwalader
Hogan Lovells Cadwalader
Article

Ninth Circuit Vacates CFAA Injunction Against Perplexity's Comet AI Agent

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a preliminary injunction against Perplexity AI, determining that when an AI agent acts at a user's direction, it is the user—not the AI company—who "accesses" computer systems under federal and California computer fraud statutes. This landmark appellate decision addresses how existing computer-access laws apply to agentic artificial intelligence and has significant implications...
United StatesMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Jones Day
Jones Day
Article

Booking Holdings v. Commission: General Court Clears The Way For Reverse Leveraging

The General Court of the European Union has upheld the European Commission's prohibition of Booking Holdings' acquisition of eTraveli Group, endorsing for the first time a 'reverse leveraging' theory of harm in conglomerate mergers. This landmark judgment establishes that dominant companies can be blocked from acquiring complementary businesses even when the target operates in a market where the acquirer lacks dominance, fundamentally reshaping merger control enforcement in digital and ecosystem-driven mark
United StatesAntitrust/Competition Law
Baker Botts L.L.P.
Baker Botts L.L.P.
Article

Trump Tariff Tracker – May 8, 2026

A U.S. Court of International Trade ruling struck down President Trump's global 10% tariffs under Section 122, finding them unauthorized and unlawful. Meanwhile, the administration continues to threaten increased tariffs on European automobiles and initiates reviews of existing China tariff actions. This comprehensive tracker documents the complex landscape of implemented, pending, and proposed tariff measures across multiple countries and product categories.
GlobalInternational Law
Baker Botts L.L.P.
Baker Botts L.L.P.
Article

Texas Large Load Interconnection Update: ERCOT Batch Zero Pause And Verification Process

Texas regulators have paused the ERCOT Batch Zero interconnection process for data centers following Governor Abbott's directive requiring comprehensive verification of all large load projects. The verification encompasses two distinct workstreams affecting projects based on size and type, with implications for energization timelines and regulatory compliance. Projects with near-term energization dates face particular uncertainty as ERCOT implements new audit requirements that could take several months to c
United StatesEnergy and Natural Resources
Baker Botts L.L.P.
Baker Botts L.L.P.