Airbus has launched its new Enter the SpaceDataHighway challenge, in order to encourage innovation and expand its application portfolio.

As part of the challenge, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), start-ups, entrepreneurs and students can propose their business ideas to use the ‘SpaceDataHighway’ advanced space communication system.

The winner will receive a €75,000 investment and support from Airbus’ innovation powerhouse, Bizlab.

“The SpaceDataHighway is like the first optical-fibre in space, but with the added advantage of mobility."

An amount of €25,000 will be provided to the second winning idea to launch a crowdfunding campaign on Airbus’ SpaceStarters platform.

Airbus defence and space SpaceDataHighway business head Hughes Boulnois said: "In general, space communications are the only way to establish broadband communications between humans and machines, whether they are in urban or remote areas, at sea, in the air or even in space.

“The SpaceDataHighway is like the first optical-fibre in space, but with the added advantage of mobility. Therefore, the scope of possible applications is vast.

"With the generalisation of space technologies and the emergence of new stakeholders in the sector, Airbus wants this initiative to engage with and listen to the end-users market needs and to develop ideas to support this extended space ecosystem."

Developed by Airbus in partnership with European Commission and the European Space Agency, SpaceDataHighway currently transmits large volumes of data through space at a rate of 1.8GB a second.

SpaceDataHighway uses laser technology to transmit data can help humanitarian crises, maritime security and environmental protection missions.

The system has the ability to connect other platforms, including aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or the International Space Station.