Global provider of satellite services Intelsat S.A. and Kymeta Corporation, the leading developer of metamaterials-based antenna technology, today announced an agreement to design and produce innovative, flat, electronically steerable, Ku-band mTenna satellite antenna solutions. The first Intelsat EpicNG satellite is expected to launch in late 2015.
The agreement is expected to lead to a range of antenna and terminal products across core application verticals such as maritime and aero mobility, Content delivery and wireless backhaul applications. In addition, the two companies said, it would also provide the opportunity to expand and reach into new verticals such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and ground transportation which were expected to experience significant demand over the next 10 years. Kymeta has agreed to work exclusively with Intelsat on Ku-band technology development in certain application verticals.
Stephen Spengler, Intelsat’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer, said in a written statement, “Intelsat’s ubiquitous, global telecommunications infrastructure is able to deliver broadband or narrow band communications virtually anywhere on the earth’s surface. We are making significant investments in our new Intelsat EpicNG satellite platform which will deliver increased throughput and cost efficiency. Just as important is our investment in this new, metamaterials-based ground technology which will simplify access to our satellites and open attractive new markets for our solutions. Under this joint development program with Kymeta, we will bring to market innovative solutions for existing and new applications, leveraging performance of our satellite platform. This is especially important as we begin to capitalize on the considerable opportunities that are opening to the sector with respect to connected mobility.”
Kymeta’s flat, thin, light and low-cost satellite tracking antennas will be designed to work seamlessly with Intelsat’s satellite fleet, providing complete flexibility to establish connectivity in sectors for which traditional antennas are not currently practical or feasible.
Dr Nathan Kundtz, President and Chief Technology Officer of Kymeta, added, “Intelsat’s global reach and next-generation network architecture are a natural fit for our unique technology. This agreement and the resulting Ku-band antenna solutions will create new opportunities for mobility and machine-to-machine telecom applications across a variety of verticals and further our vision of enabling lower cost, high-speed satellite Internet connectivity anywhere in the world.”
Image Credit: Intelsat
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