ThinKom Solutions has completed the first live test of a commercially available phased-array antenna with Telesat’s Phase 1 LEO satellite.
Using a Newtec MDM6000 modem, the production model Ka2517 aeronautical satcom 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 the LEO satellite to a geostationary (GEO) satellite and back to the LEO satellite, with switching times that were consistently under one second.
“These on-air tests confirm that our unique phased-array antenna architecture provides the beam agility, switching speeds, low look-angles and high spectral efficiencies required to communicate over a LEO satellite network,” said Bill Milroy, ThinKom’s chairman and chief technology officer. “We are now moving into the next phase of development and commercialisation of an Enterprise User Terminal for Telesat’s global LEO satellite system.”
