The first high-performance, low-cost flat panel antenna terminal at Ka band to unlock the full potential of satellite-based broadband communications

Project Information

Greenerwave

Grant agreement ID: 190156996

DOI

10.3030/190156996

Project closed

EC signature date 20 November 2023

Start date 1 December 2023

End date 30 November 2025

Funded under

• The European Innovation Council (EIC)

Total cost

€ 3 560 500,00

EU contribution

€ 2 492 350,00

Coordinated by

GREENERWAVE
France

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Greenerwave (The first high-performance, low-cost flat panel antenna terminal at Ka band to unlock the full potential of satellite-based broadband communications)

Reporting period: 2024-12-01 to 2025-11-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Be connected everytime everywhere has become key for our world. Part of this connectivity is bringing by satellite constellations. The satellite communication market is growing fast due to the emergence of LEO constellations. To cater the needs of the end user, high performances and affordable satellite communication terminals are needed.
The project objective is to develop a competitive European SATCOM end user terminal in the Ka band compatible to GEO and NGSO constellation (IRIS² or other NGSO constellation). Greenerwave is developing a new type of flat panel antenna for the Ka band using proprietary beamforming technologies that shift the complexity from the hardware to the software, achieving low production costs and low energy consumption (at least x5 reduction compared to state-of-the-art in both cases), and thus solving the main bottleneck for mass adoption of LEO/MEO mega-constellations. The solution is seen as a key enabler for the EU-based planned IRIS² multi-orbit constellation, a strategic asset for Europe. Greenerwave has already received interest from 20+ European, US, Asian satellite operators, and MoDs, suggesting high market demand.
Based on a B2B model and the establishment of solid partnerships, Greenerwave forecast hundreds of millions of revenues before the end of the decade. The Greenerwave vision is to achieve mass-market adoption and become a global european and world leading provider of flat panel antennas for user terminals in the satellite communication market.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Since the start of the project, Greenerwave succeed to develop the first Ka single aperture electronically steerable antenna covering the full Ka band (including the military Ka band). This is a huge milestone for the company.
To do that, the Greenerwave had to design all of the parts of the beamformer, meaning:
- Develop a new design of wideband metasurface able to cover from 17 to 31 GHz;
- Develop a distributed wideband feeding system able to manage transmission and reception for this beamformer;
- Develop a wideband semi-transparent mask;
- Validate the fabrication and assembly process with electronic manufacturing partners to build the beamformer (assemble all of the subsystems inside a cavity).

During the second part of the project, Greenerwave succeed develop a Ka terminal by developing a full antenna control unit and integrate a Ka front end. Designed to be modem agnostic, the terminal has been tested in operational condition using an external modem: Communication on the pause and on the move have been performed using GEO satellite.
The multiorbit antenna control software has been tested for Geo and Leo constellation using the Greenerwave Ku terminal.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The wideband single aperture Ka antenna developed by Greenerwave is a new way to conceive an ESA antenna. Compared to the competition, this solution is a game changer, it is :
- Ultra low power consumption and low heat dissipation (passive ESA);
- easy to integrate (strategic for mobile assets (vehicles, ships, aircrafts, UAVs);
- easy to manufacture (massive market compatible), because the hardware remains on COTS components;
- an affordable ESA antenna (low bill of materials).
Other benefits of the technology is the agility of the antenna. It is basically a software defined antenna. It means we can shape the wave the way we want. Full duplex, half duplex, single beam, multibeam, frequency, polarization, etc., all of the features are controlled by software.
We already did some demonstrations using GEO Ka satellites, showing all the features listed above.
Despite the absence of a Ka LEO constellation, thanks to the parallel development of Ku and Ka terminals, Greenerwave has been able to demonstrate the LEO capabilities of the technologie. It is ready to become operational as soon as the Ka LEO constellations are launched

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Greenerwave satellite communication terminal prototype under test.

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Greenerwave satellite communication terminal