The University of Western Australia (UWA) has launched TeraNet, a new sovereign communications network that uses high-speed lasers to transfer data to and from satellites. Backed by a $4.4 million grant from the Australian Space Agency, with additional support from the Western Australian Government and UWA, the $6.5 million project positions Australia at the forefront of next-generation space communications.
Led by Professor Sascha Schediwy from UWA’s node of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), the network will support a wide range of missions in low Earth orbit and explore advanced deep space applications, including NASA’s Artemis program.
AARNet, Australia’s national research and education network, is supporting TeraNet by providing expertise in networking services and research data movement, ensuring the project can deliver robust, scalable connectivity for space missions.
This partnership builds on AARNet’s long history of enabling Australia’s research and education sector to move massive volumes of data and collaborate globally.
This is an edited version of a case study first published on the AARNet website: TeraNet Launches as Australia’s First Optical Laser Communications Network.
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