Focus: Ground Systems

The U.S. Space Force and a number of commercial companies have joined a satellite industry group working for interoperability in satellite and ground system networks.  The Digital IF Interoperability Consortium (DIFI) announced Oct. 7 that the Space Force, Space Systems Command (SSC), and commercial members Bascom Hunter Technologies; ETL Systems; Envistacom; L3Harris Technologies Communication Systems...

HySpecIQ has selected BridgeComm‘s high-speed optical downlink for its Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation, the companies announced Monday.  Bridgecomm said these laser communication downlink terminals and network of optical ground stations will provide high data transmission capabilities for the HySpecIQ mission. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.  HySpecIQ plans for a 12-satellite constellation to...

PPM Systems has released new RF components for its satellite and defense customers, the company announced Sept. 26. The company has unveiled a series of high power broadband diplexers, plus new low to high power Radio Frequency (RF) phase shifters. Among the new products is the CMIDX series of high-power broadband diplexers. These are designed...

The perfect antenna is one the customer uses, never sees, and never worries about, said Carl Novello, the chief technology officer of NXT Communications (NXTCOMM). “Who is the user of our technology? Is it a retail consumer user? Is it a military user on the front lines? Is it a first responder? Is it the...

Ground systems technology is years behind the satellites it supports and catching up will entail a fundamental transformation of the sector and the introduction of interoperable standards, panelists at SATELLITE 2021 said Wednesday, Sept. 8. “The technology improvements in the space layer over the last five to 10 years have been massive,” said Stuart Daughtridge,...

A group of major Swedish technology companies that recently formed a partnership expects to have prototype low-cost satellite terminals for Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) ready for testing and validation in 2022, and then in 2023 expects to launch them into the market. This could be a huge development for the Swedish space industry and put it...

Gilat Satellite Networks has won another broadband-related contract in Latin America. It announced on Monday that it has received a $12 million service award for recurring revenues from broadband services in Cusco, Peru. Operation and maintenance for a three-year period will be provided for the regional broadband transport network. This contract of the regional broadband...

Yahsat has selected Cobham Satcom to deliver a mobile broadband system, including ground infrastructure and products, to operate as part of Yahsat’s next-generation Thuraya 4-NGS system. Under the contract announced Thursday, Sept. 9, Cobham Satcom will develop a range of commercial and government focused terminals for land, maritime and aeronautical applications. The companies said Cobham...

Eutelsat Communications has selected the Hughes Network Systems Jupiter System Series 3 to enable services on the new KONNECT Very High-Throughput Satellite (VHTS). The companies announced the award Tuesday, Sept. 7. Hughes Network Systems will design, manufacture, and deliver gateways, end-user terminals, and a network management system for KONNECT VHTS, expected to launch in 2022....

There are many factors driving the ballooning complexity of ground systems, but paradoxically one of them is the customer desire for simplicity. “We’re at a position in the market where customers want simplified satellite services,” Jon Sala, Eutelsat vice president of Products, Platforms and Connectivity said during the session “The Hidden Complexities of Ground Systems,”...