EDINBURGH - Scottish radio technology company, Sofant Technologies, has received significant financial backing (€7.3M) from the UK Space Agency (UKSA) and the European Space Agency (ESA) to support the commercialization of its low-cost low-power satellite communications platform.
Applying patented and state of the art RF MEMS (radio frequency microelectromechanical systems), Sofant Technologies’ platform solves the most pressing power consumption and heat problems faced by the next generation of 5G and satellite communications systems.
The funding from the European Space Agency – secured under an Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) contract – will support Sofant Technologies to complete the commercialization of a satellite communication terminal, allowing users to connect to the cloud via a new generation of low-latency, super-fast satellite networks.
Eliminating the need for complex and expensive cooling systems, Sofant’s platform will enable Satellite Communication (SatCom) and 5G wireless networks to operate with 70% less power, a significant step forward as 5G adoption accelerates towards 1 billion users by 2022. [1]
By connecting devices wirelessly via a satellite network, Sofant Technologies’ terminal will reduce the needs for terrestrial infrastructure and make it much easier for people in rural and remote locations to get online.
With COP26 underway, Sofant’s technology is moving towards further environmental savings, with the potential for the technology to be powered by renewable energy. Those relying on solar or wind technology in rural locations will have the ability to connect via their own power sources, further reducing individual carbon footprints in the pursuit of neutral carbon emissions by 2050.
