Technology that accelerates
Viasat phased array satcom demo
Viasat phased array satcom demo
A consortium of partners, including NLR, and Lionix International BV, came together to develop phased array antenna technology.
Phased array satcom antenna technology will provide multiple benefits to businesses, industries and consumers. Project Aidan is co-funded by ESA, Viasat and others within the European and US industry.
This year, we celebrate a key milestone in this program with the first test flight of the satcom phased array antenna developed within Aidan. This core technology is a building block to connect fixed and mobile platforms in the air, on land, and at sea, to enable the game-changing broadband experiences that Viasat satellites will provide worldwide.
Aircraft: NLR Cessna Citation 2
Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands to Payerne, Switzerland
Dave Ryan
SVP & President, Space & Commercial Networks
Jim Dodd
President, Global Enterprise & Mobility
Stefano Vaccaro
Managing Director of Viasat Commercial Networks Europe
Francesca Del Monaco
Project Manager, Viasat Netherlands
Massimiliano Simeoni
ESA Aidan Implementation Manager
Head Swiss Space Office at State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI
Sr. Advisor Technology Transfer & Telecoms at Netherlands Space Office NSO
Viasat Lausanne
Viasat has moved closer to delivering what promises to be game-changing technology for the industry. Instead of tracking satellites by moving, the phased array antenna remains ‘stationary’ while sophisticated electronics allow it to steer its beams to maintain contact with the satellite. It’s a groundbreaking technology that has multiple benefits for mobile users.
Viasat has a history of delivering on bold promises, delivering unprecedented bandwidth with each new generation of Viasat satellites. Viasat’s new generation satellite constellation, ViaSat-3, will extend high-capacity coverage around the world, with more than 1Tbps of capacity available per satellite.
“Antenna technologies all revolve around trying to collect the signal, make it strong so that receivers and modems and networking equipment can pass that signal along so that the end user gets a high-speed internet experience, even while moving. One of the great things about the phased array antenna is that it can electronically - in very fast terms - repoint the antenna. This ensures that it stays on target and keeps high-speed internet data going through it without interruption. In the past, phased arrays have been very expensive. One of the unique things Viasat has done is, in a very efficient and cost-effective way, build up this sandwich of the antenna elements, the electronics and the beam formers to make the antenna do what it needs to do, in a very compact package.”
“ESA is extremely pleased to enable continuous investment in the development of highly innovative solutions and services by European and Canadian manufacturers and operators (as Viasat Netherlands and Viasat Switzerland). ESA is committed to develop initiatives in support of the European commercial satellite telecommunications industry and generate pioneering technology in this domain for the benefit of Europe’s worldwide competitiveness. The Aidan project with Viasat represents a new step of a long-standing effort in that endeavour. This important milestone further expands the ability to address the market of internet connectivity for the civilian aviation."
Media - Scott Goryl
scott.goryl@viasat.com
Tel: +1-760-476-2200
Business Development - Philippe de Abreu
philippe.deabreu@viasat.com
Tel: +41-215-455-116