Aalyria and HICO sign MOU to Deploy High-Speed Laser Communications Capability Across Hundreds of Commercial Ships Worldwide

Collaboration aims to create first-of-its-kind Global Surface Marine Internet with fiber-like speeds

LIVERMORE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aalyria Technologies and HICO Investment Group have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (‘MOU’) that outlines the objectives and framework of a collaboration to deploy up to 200 of Aalyria’s high-speed, free space optics communications platforms across the maritime industry throughout the Middle East, Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean.

Aalyria’s Tightbeam technology uses coherent light laser terminals to transmit data through the atmosphere at incredibly high speeds starting at 100 Gbps. Tightbeam is capable of operating with high fidelity in atmospheric conditions that have historically hampered predecessor optical technologies.

Aalyria aims to outfit thousands of marine vessels with Tightbeam terminals, enabling a large mesh network that will extend high-speed, ground-based connectivity far into the open ocean without relying on satellites. Tightbeam terminals operating onshore, in harbors, or on offshore stations will connect to nearby vessels and aircraft which can then connect to other vessels and aircraft operating farther from land. Through the extension of this connectivity across and among a variety of vessels and aircraft, a first-of-its-kind Global Surface Marine Internet will be created. Fiber-like speeds can be achieved through the atmosphere and data will be transported across oceans and to locations as never possible before.

The dynamic network needed to ensure connectivity is maintained across Tightbeam-equipped vessels is made possible by Aalyria’s Spacetime technology. Spacetime is an advanced software platform designed for orchestrating and managing complex mesh networks across all connectivity-equipped assets including satellites, ground stations, aircraft, and ships. Spacetime considers all factors that could impact the ability of Tightbeam terminals to close a connection and automatically reroutes connections in real-time to maintain optimal connectivity among all vessels in the fleet.

Aalyria has recently struck a number of deals with a range of public and private sector partners including the Defense Innovation Unit, Intelsat, Rivada Space Networks, Anduril, Leidos, the U.S. Navy, and others.

In a statement, Chris Hartnoll, CEO and Managing Director of HICO Ventures, said “The shipping industry has played a critical role in creating the global economy of today and will now play a critical role in the future of telecommunications. Aalyria’s high speed laser communication will allow us to create a new optical network above the sea that delivers highly efficient and high capacity communication between vessels, offshore infrastructure, and remote areas. We are excited to work with Aalyria on building the communication networks and services of the future.”

Aalyria’s CEO, Chris Taylor, said “Tightbeam’s coherent light free space optical capability is 100x faster, transmits 10x farther, and is more useful to more business and mission cases than all other FSO products today. Terabit laser connectivity changes the economics of the space, aviation, maritime, and terrestrial markets. HICO sees this future and shares a common vision. Our customers create new networks at revolutionary price points that leverage the most advanced AI in Spacetime with real time adaptive optics in Tightbeam to bring secure, high-speed reliable networking to the world.”

About Aalyria: Aalyria is a global advanced networking and laser communications technology company. It is revolutionizing connectivity on Earth and in space. Its Tightbeam product, the world’s first atmospherically corrected coherent free space optics solution, and Spacetime, the only all-orbit, all-domain, software defined network orchestration platform, is helping commercial and government customers reimagine business and mission models to make their assets more effective, efficient, and profitable.

About HICO: HICO Investment Group was founded in 2021 by Tim Hartnoll, Executive Chairman of X-Press Feeders, the world’s largest common feeder carrier, and builds on his experience and expertise in the logistics and maritime industry. HICO invests transformational capital into exciting technologies and operating businesses that can leverage HICO’s close partnerships around the world to help scale globally.