The communications on the move is a growing market. Existing solutions, based on parabolic antennas and land connections, pose limitations for on-the-move applications, specially for the aeronautics sector and, therefore, satellite communications on the move (Satcom-On-the-Move (SOTM)) market, is growing due to the growing demand for broadband in-flight and land and maritime transport connectivity. As a result, broadband satellite communications-on-the-move market is estimated in €1,185M (2016) with a 60% CAGR.
The solution for efficient SOTM communications are phased-array antennas, but the development and implementation of phased-array antennas have been delayed due to the fact that advanced electronic circuits need to be developed in order to make these antennas feasible both in economic and technical terms.
The path to have more efficient and less costly phased-array antennas is the use of advanced integrated circuits. SMEInst-1 coordinator, the Spanish SME WIMMIC, is a design house for MMICs (monolithic microwave integrated circuits), which has specialised in designing unique multifunctional MMICs for making phased-array antennas feasible. WIMMIC proposal focuses on their multifunctional single (MultiSingle) MMIC specifically designed for phase-array antennas. This MultiSingle MMIC is capable of mixing and amplifying signals for several radiant elements of a phased array antenna simultaneously, in order to reduce the cost and environmental impact and to improve the efficiency of satellite communications. This also allows a reduction in the integration complexity of the system. Additionally, the cost of a series-manufactured chip is very reduced, which implies that the cost of the phased-array antennas is reduced drastically. As an example, considering the hardware in current antennas represents over 50% of the CAPEX, and that WIMMIC´s new MMIC will cost 80% less, WIMMIC´s solution leads to a 40% reduction on CAPEX costs of phased-array antennas.
During SMEInst-1 project development, we validated our initial statements and established further contacts with existing and future clients. We also progressed in new novel MMICs and we have evolved in the antenna concept.
