€7.3m for MEMS-based satellite comms terminal
Sofant Technologies in Edinburgh has raised €7.3m from the European Space Agency to complete the commercialisation of a satellite communication terminal
The development under an Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) contract will allow users to connect to the cloud via low-latency broadband satellite networks.
The funding comes as Sofant Technologies gears up for its first Series A funding round, to scale its base in Edinburgh and triple its headcount from 16 to 48 over the contract period. This will create numerous highly-skilled jobs within Scotland’s engineering sector, from antenna and product design to component, product and software engineering.
Sofant is using its patented RF MEMS technology to develop an extremely low power, low-cost platform which solves the most pressing power consumption and heat problems in satellite communications and 5G antenna systems.
Sofant’s platform avoids the need for complex and expensive cooling systems and will enable SatCom and 5G wireless networks to operate with 70 percent less power.
“We are honoured that the UKSA and the ESA have agreed o support the commercialisation of Sofant’s technology. They have a clear understanding of the technical challenges faced by the satellite communications industry as it seeks to exploit the promise of a new generation of satellite networks. They also share our belief that a scalable technology platform which solves power consumption and heat problems in phased array antennas is critical for the future wireless communications. We look forward to working with the team at the ESA throughout this project,” said David Wither, CEO of Sofant Technologies.
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