Greenerwave and Safran partner on Ka-band SATCOM terminal for IFC

Summary points:

• Full-Fleet Ka-Band Connectivity: Greenerwave and Safran Passenger Innovations are jointly developing a compact, energy-efficient Ka-band SATCOM terminal compatible with all current and future NGSO constellations, aiming to reduce costs and improve in-flight connectivity performance.

• Technology Integration: The terminal leverages Greenerwave’s Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) and passive electromagnetic wave control to enable rapid integration, lower SWaP, and broad modem compatibility, with deployment targeted at commercial aviation.

• Future-Proof and Sustainable: Designed for easy upgrades and minimal energy consumption, the terminal aligns with aviation sustainability goals and supports potential future capabilities like 5G NTN, offering airlines long-term investment protection.

PARIS - French tech firm Greenerwave and Brea, Calif.-based Safran Passenger Innovations (SPI) have announced a partnership to develop a next-generation Ka-band satellite communications (SATCOM) terminal designed to provide high-speed, in-flight connectivity for commercial aviation. The terminal will be compatible with current and future non-geostationary (NGSO) satellite constellations.

The system leverages Greenerwave’s work in Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) and passive electromagnetic wave control along with SPI’s experience in in-flight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) systems. The companies say the new SATCOM terminal will be lightweight, software-defined, and modem-agnostic, with a low size, weight, and power (SWaP) profile to minimize installation downtime and operating costs.

"Thanks to its unique approach to 100% passive electronic wave control, Greenerwave is building the ideal terminal for aero applications: fully agnostic, energy-efficient, compact, and cost-effective,” said Geoffroy Lerosey, CEO and co-founder of Greenerwave. “This partnership with Safran, the global leader in in-flight connectivity, will bring this breakthrough to the commercial aviation market."

Radiation-hardened branches out from New Space

Matt Smith, CEO of SPI, added, “To meet the needs of the dynamic IFEC industry of today, an aero terminal flexible enough to work on different constellations and in challenging environments is required. SPI views the technology of Greenerwave as meeting these demands, and we are excited to develop this terminal for our customers."

Greenerwave, which recently opened an office in Toulouse, France, is expanding from its work on Ku-band terminals into the Ka-band aerospace market. The new terminal is engineered for reduced thermal dissipation, enabling stable operation even on overheated airport tarmacs. The system is designed to provide uninterrupted high-speed service for passengers, enabling them to stream, browse, and message throughout their flights.

Beyond near-term benefits, the terminal is also designed for future upgrades such as 5G non-terrestrial network (NTN) integration and could support broader standardization in satellite-based aviation connectivity.

At the heart of Greenerwave’s technology are metasurfaces that shape electromagnetic waves using centimeter-sized elements called pixels. These pixels act as micromirrors to reflect and steer waves under algorithmic control. The passive design contributes to lower power usage and simpler manufacturing, aligning with the aviation industry’s sustainability and cost-reduction goals.