SpeQtral, Singapore’s leading quantum communications company, in partnership with the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council’s RAL Space, has announced the successful deployment of the SpeQtre CubeSat. Launched aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-15 mission on 28 November 2025, the satellite is now in sun-synchronous orbit. This marks a significant step forward in space-based quantum communications technology.
The SpeQtre satellite, a 12U CubeSat, is equipped with advanced quantum hardware designed by SpeQtral. It aims to demonstrate secure space-to-ground quantum communication, a challenging feat given the satellite’s compact size. The mission seeks to validate quantum components and develop sophisticated communication protocols, potentially reducing costs and enhancing accessibility for future missions. “This mission represents years of collaborative development between our teams,” said Chune Yang Lum, CEO of SpeQtral.
Following its deployment, the satellite will undergo a commissioning phase, involving the activation and testing of all spacecraft subsystems. This phased approach ensures thorough validation before advancing to quantum experiments. Andy Vick, Disruptive Technology Lead at RAL Space, noted, “By approaching this mission with speed and creativity, they have already paved the way for more ambitious missions ahead.”
The mission addresses emerging cybersecurity challenges posed by advancements in quantum computing, which threaten conventional encryption methods. Satellite-based systems offer quantum-secure communications across vast distances, unlike terrestrial fibre networks. The collaboration is part of a broader Singapore-UK initiative to strengthen technological cooperation, supported by Singapore’s Office for Space Technology and Industry and the UK’s National Quantum Technologies Programme.
Quantum communications experiments are expected to commence in early 2026, with data from these experiments informing the development of future commercial satellites. The success of this mission could accelerate the deployment of commercial quantum communications constellations, establishing important precedents for international cooperation in quantum technologies.
