EFFECT Photonics has signed a definitive agreement with Viasat to acquire the global communications firm’s coherent optical digital signal processing (DSP) business. As part of EFFECT’s recent push to develop its coherent technology, the company has also established partnerships with Jabil Photonics and Aircision.

EFFECT’s acquisition of Viasat’s DSP business marks a significant enhancement to the company’s portfolio. EFFECT will now own the entire coherent technology stack of all optical functions, including a high-performance tunable laser, together with DSP and forward error correction. The acquisition also includes the related engineering team at Viasat, and, pursuant to the acquisition agreement, Viasat will be joining EFFECT Photonics’ supervisory board and hold a minority interest in the company.

EFFECT Photonics and Jabil Photonics will co-develop coherent optical modules aimed at the next generation of data technology, which seeks to increase data flow while reducing power consumption.

The partnership with Aircision, a developer of high-capacity free space optics systems, seeks to push the boundaries of ground-to-ground FSO technology by combining the advantages of integrated and free space photonics. Aircision is currently developing a 100-Gbit/s coherent free space optics system capable of transmitting up to 10 km.