Blink Modem at the Core of RF Ground Communications for SpeQtral's SpeQtre Quantum Satellite

22 October, 2026

[SpeQtral has selected its Blink software modem to manage radio frequency (RF) communications with the SpeQtre quantum communications satellite. SpeQtral, a leader in quantum communication technologies, took operational control of the SpeQtre satellite in July 2026 and is now focused on the mission's quantum experimentation phase. In the SpeQtre mission, Blink runs within the AWS Ground Station network and provides telemetry and telecommand (TM/TC) and wideband data downlink over the satellite's RF link.

Advances in quantum computing threaten conventional encryption methods. This creates new cybersecurity risks for sovereign and enterprise telecommunications networks. SpeQtral develops satellite-based quantum key distribution (QKD) to secure communications over long distances. Its work is a key step towards a global quantum-secure communications network for governments, businesses and operators of critical infrastructure.

The SpeQtre satellite is designed to generate and transmit entanglement-based encryption keys worldwide. After its launch in November 2025, the satellite made contact with optical ground stations (OGS) in Asia and Europe. SpeQtral is now calibrating the optical links to the higher precision that operational quantum communications require.

For the SpeQtre mission, Amphinicy’s Blink software modem is used within AWS ground station network for flexible, efficient and convenient RF communication with the satellite. Blink has been supporting the SpeQtre mission from its AIT/AIV phase in 2024 to operations today. Both AIT/AIV tests and operations use Blink deployed as virtual modem within the AWS cloud infrastructure. This is a novel method of modem use, particularly for AIT/AIV purposes.

In addition to simple and fast modem deployment, Amphinicy delivered an automated, on-demand, TM/TC and payload downlink communication stack on AWS, orchestrating all required resources and distributing uplink and downlink digIF between AWS antennas and Blink modem for each scheduled contact.

Dr. Robert Bedington, Cofounder and CTO at SpeQtral, said: ”Amphinicy’s Blink software modem has given the SpeQtre mission the flexibility to move with relative ease from integration and testing into on-orbit operations. Its cloud-based deployment through AWS Ground Station provides a scalable and efficient foundation for reliable satellite communications, allowing our team to focus on the mission’s core objective: advancing space-based quantum communications towards real-world deployment.”