IonQ’s Skyloom Optical Communications Terminals Reach 84 On-Orbit Installations Following Latest Launch

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Key Terms

optical communication terminals technical

Optical communication terminals are devices that send and receive information using light—through fiber cables or free-space links—converting electrical signals into light beams and back. Think of them as the transceivers in a high-speed postal system: they determine how fast, far and reliably data can travel. Investors care because these terminals are core components of networks that enable broadband, data centers, satellite links and telecom services, so demand and performance affect revenue, costs and competitive advantage.

low-earth orbit technical

Low-earth orbit (LEO) is the region of space close to Earth where satellites circle at relatively low altitudes, roughly between about 160 and 2,000 kilometers. For investors, LEO matters because satellites placed there are cheaper and faster to reach, offer lower communications delay and clearer imaging, and enable large commercial services like broadband, Earth observation and logistics monitoring — much like a network of local cell towers and cameras in the sky that can generate recurring revenue streams.

two-qubit gate fidelity technical

Two-qubit gate fidelity measures how accurately a quantum computer performs a basic operation that links two quantum bits (qubits). Think of it like the success rate of a two-person handshake that must be precise for a larger task; higher fidelity means fewer errors, better chances of running useful algorithms, and lower cost to correct mistakes. Investors watch it because higher fidelity signals more reliable hardware and faster progress toward commercially valuable quantum computing.

low-latency technical

Low-latency describes a system or process that responds very quickly to information or changes, often within milliseconds. For investors, it means receiving and acting on market data almost instantly, which can provide a competitive edge in fast-moving trading environments. Think of it like a quick reflex in a game—being faster can make a difference in making timely decisions.

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08/24/2026 - 08:05 AM

Deployment of Additional OCTs Marks Major Milestone Toward SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Skyloom Global, LLC, an IonQ (NYSE:IONQ) company specializing in the development of space-based optical technology for secure, high-performance communications, today announced that dozens of additional optical communication terminals (OCTs) have been successfully deployed on orbit. The OCTs were aboard York Space Systems satellites supporting the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA).

The satellites equipped with the company’s optical technology were launched July 16, 2026, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. This latest installation builds on the previous OCTs launched during SDA’s first Tranche 1 mission in September 2025, resulting in several dozen OCTs on orbit. This significant achievement represents one of the largest operational lasercomm payload footprints in low-Earth orbit.

“We’re proud to continue supporting SDA with proven, U.S.-built optical communications technology at scale,” said IonQ’s President of Quantum Platform, Jordan Shapiro. “This milestone reflects years of focused industrialization and our commitment to strengthening the nation’s space-based communications infrastructure. As space networking evolves toward higher-throughput optical architectures, our proven OCTs provide the backbone for the resilient, data-rich mesh networks that will define the next era of space connectivity.”

With the second deployment of space vehicles equipped with OCTs, and the third deployment of Transport Layer Tranche 1 space vehicles overall, SDA moves closer to completion of the Tranche 1 PWSA Transport Layer constellation. These spacecraft are designed to provide high-throughput, low-latency, mission-enabling communications essential to national defense, all interoperable with SDA’s OCT standards.

About IonQ

IonQ, Inc. [NYSE: IONQ] is the world’s leading quantum platform and foundry - delivering integrated quantum solutions across computing, networking, sensing, and security.

IonQ’s newest generation of quantum computers, the IonQ Tempo, is the latest in a line of cutting-edge systems. Earlier systems have helped customers and partners including Amazon Web Services, AstraZeneca, and NVIDIA achieve a 20x performance increase over previous quantum solutions and accelerate innovation in drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense.

In 2025, the company achieved 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance.

Headquartered in College Park, Maryland, IonQ has operations in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Washington, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Our quantum computing services are available through all major cloud providers, while we also meet the needs of networking and sensing customers across land, sea, air, and space. IonQ is making quantum platforms more accessible and impactful than ever before. Learn more at IonQ.com.

IonQ Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the expected performance, reliability, and operational benefits of our Optical Communication Terminals (OCTs); the anticipated role of our optical communications technology in supporting the Space Development Agency's Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture and future space-based communications infrastructure; the expected completion, scale, and capabilities of the PWSA constellation, including its Transport Layer and Tracking Layer satellites; the continued deployment, integration, and on-orbit operation of our OCTs at scale; the anticipated evolution of space networking toward higher-throughput optical architectures and our role in enabling resilient, data-rich mesh networks; the strength and continuation of our partnership with York Space Systems; and our ability to deliver proven, U.S.-built optical communications technology to support national defense and the next era of space connectivity. These statements are only predictions based on our expectations and projections about future events as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may prove incorrect, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including, among others, those described under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

New risks emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can management assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement we make. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made.

Except as otherwise required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether due to new information, future events, or otherwise.