Swedish satellite industry pioneers to develop next-gen low-cost LEO terminal – win Vinnova innovation grant

Swedish public innovation agency, Vinnova, has awarded a SEK 4 million development grant to a Swedish project group aimed at boosting development of a next generation, low-cost LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellite terminal. The award is part of Vinnova’s Electronic components & systems – research and innovation projects 2021.

The project group, led by Satcube and including Chalmers University of Technology, Gapwaves and Forsway Scandinavia, have joined forces to develop a benchmark satellite terminal featuring dramatically lower cost, size and weight compared to existing LEO offerings.

As the most important cost driver for a highly cost-efficient terminal is the antenna, the collaborators will focus primarily on developing a benchmark planar Ka-band antenna array, assessing features such as electronic / mechanic beam steering, gap waveguide technology and receive-only architecture.

Market scenario and drivers

As a broad playing field of organizations and leading satcom providers are currently deploying LEO satellite constellations, many leading industry proponents believe these initiatives can be an important force in reducing current global digital divide, tapping the ubiquitous provision of satellite broadband coverage based on new cost-effective satellites.

Solving a key challenge: Existing LEO end-user satellite terminals are expensive, hindering mass market adoption – particularly in economically less developed rural areas where incomes and resources are relatively low. Developing a robust, low-cost satellite terminal will be key to driving change.