Smart Antenna Technologies (“SAT“) SAT designs, develops and has patented new smart antenna technologies that offers both size and performance improvements, in excess of those obtained with conventional antenna designs, at a reduced cost. The modular system developed also enables SAT to easily and quickly construct bespoke antenna systems for different applications (laptops, tablets, TVs, mobile phones, vehicles, “internet of things” etc etc ) as well as being future proofed – ie the technology already supports the new and emerging 4G LTE-Advanced market and has future proofing for new markets and new frequencies that emerge over time.
SAT is currently working closely with a small number of global OEM manufacturers on a non exclusive basis, with a prototype which is currently operational (TRL 7), and is now looking to roll this new technology out to a number of other global OEMs in selected markets. With the funding from Horizon 2020 and the limited internal resources, SAT is now conducting this analysis to select the most suitable parties to work with to bring this to market in the most timely and appropriate scenario. The final objective is to have as many of the global mobile device OEMs using SAT’s new more advanced, smaller antenna technology as possible, subject to the optimum commercial terms as finally agreed.
The objective of the project is to write a feasibility study to more accurately assess the market needs and exact technological requirements, and hence commercial potential of the next generation of antenna systems. With this information, SAT will then be in a strong position to prioritise its effort in terms of which sector to initially focus on (phones, laptops, TVs, internet of things etc), what if any are the additional bespoke requirements of clients within each sector, and the relative timing to market, in addition to the financial/economic cost benefit analysis.
The global OEMs in these sectors are demanding antenna systems which are smaller, more technologically advanced than the previous generation, future proofed (Dual-Band MIMO Wi-Fi, 4G LTE-Advanced, 4.5G 4.9G and 5G etc), and often with additional bespoke specifications, all at reduced cost and power consumption. The benefits to society of reduced power consumption, longer battery life, being future proof and therefore increasing the components/equipment life, less waste, and with a more advanced technology in smaller (less materials) antennas are clearly obvious. In addition, SAT’s new antenna systems will also reduce the number of antennas required in a laptop/tablet (resulting in significant cost reduction), freeing up more space for other components (and/or reduction of the size of the laptop).
On the commercial side, SAT’s objective is to determine the cost benefit analysis more accurately, and ultimately the potential return on investment. With this information SAT will be in a strong position to write an accurate informed and focused business plan to raise further capital via future grant applications, and/or from its current equity investors and/or to secure further investment from new equity investors, as required.
