{"id":23975,"date":"2026-02-12T19:09:03","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T18:09:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/telecomkh.info\/?p=23975"},"modified":"2026-02-12T19:09:03","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T18:09:03","slug":"thales-alenia-space-and-esa-sign-contract-for-saga-mission-to-demonstrate-europes-first-quantum-key-distribution-governmental-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/telecomkh.info\/?p=23975","title":{"rendered":"Thales Alenia Space and ESA sign contract for SAGA mission to demonstrate Europe\u2019s first Quantum Key Distribution governmental service"},"content":{"rendered":"

ESA\u2019s SAGA project aims to deploy quantum technologies in space to ensure resilient communications in order to face emerging quantum threats<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), has signed a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) concerning SAGA (Secure And cryptoGrAphic) mission. The contract covers the system definition and preliminary design of a fully European end-to-end Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) system for governmental use.
\nESA\u2019s SAGA Mission, first introduced during the 2019 edition of ESA\u2019s Ministerial Council Conference and the refined in 2022, has been developed in close collaboration with the European Commission as the space-based element of the EuroQCI initiative. Progress on the EuroQCI implementation continues, with the European Commission\u2019s upcoming Union Secure Connectivity program regulation to oversee its operational rollout.
\nThe project is supported by multiple space agencies, including the Italian Space Agency (ASI), the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the Austrian Space Agency (ASA), the Spanish Space Agency (AEE), the Netherlands Space Office (NSO), the French space agency (CNES), as well as the Swiss Space Agency (SSO). Additional agencies are expected to join as the mission advances, expanding its objectives. The mission is funded under ESA\u2019s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES), part of the Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith SAGA, our aim is to ambitiously advance satellite communications, furthering Europe\u2019s digital sovereignty, cybersecurity and industrial competitiveness in the quantum era. We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with Thales Alenia Space, which puts our Member States at the forefront of the race for truly secure connectivity,\u201d said Laurent Jaffart, Director of ESA\u2019s Connectivity and Secure Communications.
\n\u201cI am very pleased that Thales Alenia Space will contribute to strengthening Europe\u2019s technological independence by advancing optical and quantum technologies,\u201d said Thales Alenia Space CEO, Herv\u00e9 Derrey. \u201cBy leveraging its longstanding expertise in secure space communications and cutting-edge quantum technologies, Thales Alenia Space is proud to collaborate with ESA and multiple European space agencies for a secure and resilient connectivity infrastructure that will benefit governments and citizens alike, paving the way for the future of commercial optical communications both in Europe and worldwide.\u201d<\/p>\n

The contract signature took place during the 2025 Quantum Europe Conference, which brought together policymakers, industry leaders, national authorities, and experts from civil society to discuss ways to enhance Europe\u2019s already vibrant quantum technology ecosystem and cement its position as a global leader in quantum innovation and excellence.<\/p>\n

Thales Alenia Space\u2019s role in SAGA project<\/strong>
\nThales Alenia Space, with its extensive experience in secure space communications and expertise in quantum and optical telecommunications systems, has been coordinating the previous phases of the SAGA Mission since 2020, starting with SAGA Phase A and continuing to the present day.
\nSAGA mission aims to demonstrate a Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) service that will enable secure QKD provision via a Space Segment consisting of a single Low Earth Orbit (LEO) QKD satellite; an Access Segment made up of four SpaceQCI Access Nodes strategically distributed across Europe; and a Control Segment responsible for system operation and its integration with the terrestrial EuroQCI infrastructure.
\nSAGA plays a pivotal role within the overall EuroQCI development roadmap, targeting the readiness of SpaceQCI, preparing ESA and its industrial partners for EuroQCI developments under the EU Secure Connectivity regulation, and laying the groundwork for the future certification of SpaceQCI.
\nThales Alenia Space in Italy leads a highly skilled consortium that includes leading industries, SMEs, universities, and research centers, bringing together Europe\u2019s top competencies in the design and development of satellite systems, QKD technologies, and security solutions. Thales Alenia Space in France is in charge of SAGA Access Segment, including SpaceQCI Access Nodes and their specific subsystems, while Thales Alenia Space in Switzerland is responsible for the design, development and qualification of the Optical Space Terminal.<\/p>\n

Paving the way to quantum space-based communications projects<\/strong>
\nSince 2018, Thales Alenia Space has been pursuing an ambitious roadmap, establishing itself a key player in the quantum communications field. The company is leveraging its expertise in satellite telecommunication systems, optical terminals and over 25+ years of quantum technology experience within Thales to develop a fully integrated approach spanning both the space and ground segments of quantum communications systems.
\nThe challenge for quantum communications is to prepare the Quantum Information Networks that will connect quantum computers and quantum sensors to endow them with increased performance, resilience, accessibility. In parallel, new ways to secure communications will be available.
\nSpace takes this ambition one step further: satellites allow quantum signals to travel over vast distances, overcoming the limits of fiber-optic networks and making global-scale quantum communication possible.<\/p>\n

In addition to SAGA, Thales Alenia Space is in charge of several groundbreaking projects including:
\n\u2022 QKD-GEO, the world\u2019s first quantum key distribution system from geostationary orbit. This initiative will allow secure intercontinental communications and help shape Europe\u2019s role in the future quantum internet.
\n\u2022 QINSAT, a mission developed to demonstrate space-based quantum information networks.
\n\u2022 TeQuants, developing satellite technologies for quantum communication links.<\/p>\n

The company is also taking part to EuroQCI and its many projects (FranceQCI, Quantum Italy Deployment, Nostradamus, Petrus, etc..,), contributing to Europe\u2019s future quantum communication infrastructure, including its space segment.<\/p>\n

Above, image credited to ESA<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

ESA\u2019s SAGA project aims to deploy quantum technologies in space to ensure resilient communications in order to face emerging quantum threats Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), has signed a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) concerning SAGA (Secure And cryptoGrAphic) mission. The contract covers the system definition … <\/p>\n

Continue reading \u00abThales Alenia Space and ESA sign contract for SAGA mission to demonstrate Europe\u2019s first Quantum Key Distribution governmental service\u00bb<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23976,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[69],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/telecomkh.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23975"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/telecomkh.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/telecomkh.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/telecomkh.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/telecomkh.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=23975"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/telecomkh.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23975\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23977,"href":"https:\/\/telecomkh.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23975\/revisions\/23977"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/telecomkh.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/23976"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/telecomkh.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=23975"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/telecomkh.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=23975"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/telecomkh.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=23975"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}