Aalyria and HICO Plan to Deploy Laser Communications on Commercial Ships 

Rendering of an Aalyria Tightbean laser terminal. Photo: Aalyria

Aalyria Technologies has a new MoU with HICO Investment Group with a plan to deploy up to 200 of its optical communications platforms on commercial ships worldwide. HICO Investment Group invests in innovative technologies in the maritime and logistics sectors. It was founded by Tim Hartnoll, the executive chairman of X-Press Feeders, a large container shipping group. 

Aalyria is developing the Tightbeam laser terminal to transmit data through the atmosphere at 100 Gbps speeds. Aalyria’s larger goal is to equip thousands of marine vessels with Tightbeam laser terminals, to create a mesh network to extend high-speed connectivity far into the open ocean. 

“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,” commented Chris Hartnoll, CEO and managing director of HICO Ventures. “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.”