
Ensilica in UK Space Agency award for satellite broadband ICs
EnSilica has announced it has been awarded funding of £10.38 million over the next three-years from the UK Space Agency under its Connectivity in Low-Earth Orbit or “C-LEO” programme to initiate a new project for the development of the next-generation of satellite broadband ICs.
The funding will enable EnSilica to develop a family of ICs to support future generations of best-in-class, highly integrated, mass market satellite broadband user terminals capable of connecting with various satellite constellations. The project will also provide a resilient and secure source of chips which is independent and not tied to specific satellite service operators.
According to Growth Market Reports, the market for satellite user terminals is projected to reach US$16.5 billion by 2031. Each terminal requires hundreds of specialist chips to create an electronically steerable antenna.
Launched last year, the UK Space Agency’s C-LEO programme aims to ensure that the UK space sector remains competitive in the rapidly evolving global market for low-earth orbit constellations. It has a total funding pool of up to £160 million available over the next four years. The remit of the C-LEO programme is to support the development of smarter satellites, enhanced hardware, AI-driven data delivery, and improved inter-satellite connections.
This new project builds on EnSilica’s successful history of collaboration with the UK Space Agency and the European Space Agency, alongside other key satellite communications partnerships and the company’s own investment in the technology.
Ian Lankshear, EnSilica’s CEO, commented: “We believe satellite communications is an incredibly important sector for EnSilica and one that is fast expanding globally. This funding will enable us to advance our technology and bring innovative solutions to the satellite broadband market, with the project expected to be hugely beneficial to society, offering resilient internet connectivity in times of crisis, as well as providing high speed internet connectivity in remote communities not well served by terrestrial networks. The UK Space Agency provides the framework for EnSilica to develop the technology required to address a market worth many hundreds of millions.”
