ThinKom Validates Phased-Array Antenna Technology with Telesat LEO Satellite

ThinKom Solutions has announced the completion of the first live test of a commercially available phased-array antenna with Telesat’s Phase 1 LEO satellite. The test was performed using a production model of ThinKom’s ThinAir Ka2517 aeronautical satcom antenna, designed for business aviation, commercial air transport, and military airborne applications. 

ThinKom’s Ka2517 antenna successfully acquired, tracked and maintained seamless end-to-end connectivity with the Telesat LEO satellite. Full-duplex throughput data rates of up to 370 Mbps on the downlink and 110 Mbps on the uplink were achieved at extremely high spectral efficiencies, all while demonstrating the ultra-low latency capabilities (20-40 msec) of Telesat’s LEO satellite. 

Additionally, the Ka2517 reliably transitioned from tracking a LEO satellite to a GEO satellite and back to the LEO satellite, with transition times that were consistently under one second.

The on-air tests were conducted June 10-14 at Telesat’s Allan Park facility in Ontario using the flight-proven ThinKom Ka2517 phased-array antenna and a Newtec MDM6000 modem. The ThinKom antenna acquired and tracked the LEO satellite at elevation angles as low as 10 degrees above the horizon.

ThinKom and Telesat signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in September 2018 to jointly develop a Ka-band Enterprise User Terminal for Telesat’s planned LEO satellite constellation, which will offer seamless, low-latency, high-throughput broadband services on a global basis. The live on-air test with ThinKom’s Ka2517 is a big step forward in that process and clearly validates ThinKom’s proprietary phased-array technology. To know more, click here.