A map of SSC’s Ka-band ground network. Photo: Swedish Space Corporation

Swedish Space Corporation (SCC) has upgraded its Ka-band ground station network to provide global coverage. To do this, the company upgraded its polar and equatorial locations to support Ka-band data reception. SSC said this will allow the company to offer Earth Observation (EO) customers higher bandwidth and larger data volumes. 

SSC announced Nov. 23 that it upgraded strategic locations in Punta Arenas, Chile; Sri Racha, Thailand; Inuvik, Canada; and Esrange, Sweden, as well as the SSC partner station in Weilheim in Germany. 

This follows after SSC added Ka-band capability to polar sites in Canada and Sweden. In addition, the company plans for complementary Ka-band featured antennas, starting with two new radome antennas to be introduced in northern Sweden in 2021.

“We are very happy to introduce the world’s first global Ka-band network for Earth Observation missions. SSC always strives to offer ground support that reflects the size and ambitions of the market. This investment meets the growing demand of higher throughput capability for Earth Observation missions,” commented Miranda Pirrie, President Satellite Management Services at SSC.