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>>alden5+(OP)
My understanding of the state of the art of inter-satellite optical links is that they have only been used between satellites that are basically in the same orbital plane and in more or less the same orbit. That is, the angle from one satellite to the other changes very very slowly, so that the optics don't have to do much tracking -- and consequently satellites can only form an optical link with other satellites that are ahead or behind themselves in ~ the same orbit.

Cross-plane optical links would have a trickier tracking problem.

While there's no explicit mention of same-plane vs cross-plane optical links, I assume that the first time people have a public cross-plane optical link, they will make a big deal out of it. :)

The article also mentions that SpaceX would need to do further study before using laser links between satellites and ground stations-- this kind of optical link would require both more angular tracking and probably atmospheric correction as well.

>>ble+c55
Right. The Iridium network had communication between satellites in different orbital planes passing each other but that was a pretty unusual capability.

>>Symmet+pb5
They do have counter rotating planes though, so there are places where two satellite tracks next to each other moving in opposite directions, and these pairs of satellites cannot use the cross plane communication mode.

Additionally, their inter satellite links use regular Ka band radio.