NASA and MIT have developed the fastest space-to-ground laser communication link ever. Data rates of 200 gigabits per second enable a satellite to transmit more than 2 terabytes of data in a single five-minute pass over a ground station. Ground-based receiver in California achieved downlink rates of up to 100 gigabits per second last June, which was 100 times faster than the quickest internet speeds in most cities. At present, space agencies and commercial satellite operators most commonly use radio to communicate with objects in space. However, the new link boosts opportunities for more capable satellites and research on Earth’s climate and resources.
https://spectrum.ieee.org/laser-communications