29 Jan
2025
Key takeaways:
The use of artificial satellites for long-distance communications has been one of the greatest developments in networking and telecom operations. Unlike conventional signal communication, which is affected by external environmental factors, satellite services are run on radio waves that capture, store, and process information collected from different transponders and antennas located in a specific region of the world.
Traditionally, satellite communication systems were primarily used by defense forces and military establishments for different applications, including reconnaissance, battlefield monitoring, communications, and navigation systems. However, over the years, the demand for satellite communications has surged in domestic, commercial, and industrial sectors. In addition, the launch of 5G services by almost all developed and developing countries in the post-pandemic period has increased the utility of satellite services in day-to-day applications. Moreover, the emergence of the Internet of Things and autonomous systems has enhanced the demand for these modern communication solutions drastically.
Introduction of Low Earth Orbit satellite impacting the industry positively
On 4th October 1957, Sputnik 1, the first-ever artificial space satellite, was launched by the Soviet Union. Since then, the satellite communication industry has witnessed huge growth. The market, which accounted for $44.7 billion in 2023, is expected to gather a revenue of $110.7 billion by 2033, rising at a CAGR of 9.7% during 2024-2033. The technological advancements in the field of telecommunications and networking have played an important role in expanding the scope of the landscape.
In the past few years, telecommunication companies have started opting for Low Earth Orbit satellites to improve the overall quality of their transmission signals. As the name suggests, these satellites orbit the planet at lower altitudes, between 160km and 2,000km. As a result, the distance between the satellite and the transponder or receiver is quite less which ultimately reduces the latency, thereby lowering the possibility of signal disruption.
Along with this, the cost of launching and putting a LEO satellite in the Earth’s orbit is much less as compared to geostationary or other such high-altitude systems. Additionally, the signal transfer rate offered by LEO satellites is much higher than its counterparts. This high data throughput, in turn, increases the reliability of the entire system as the global coverage is much wider and helps companies establish stable and resilient communication networks across the globe seamlessly.
The transition toward phased array antennas creating numerous growth opportunities in the industry
Phased array antennas are systems that are capable of modifying the shape and direction of the radiation pattern using beam steering technology, without physically moving the antenna. These antennas are used to superimpose two or more radio wave pulses through constructive interference techniques to enhance the quality of the resultant signal. In recent years, this advanced telecommunication innovation has gained a lot of popularity in various end-use industries. Phased array antennas are widely used in automotive radars to facilitate the working of adaptive cruise control and collision avoidance systems. The ability of these systems to track moving objects precisely has made them an essential component in air and naval surveillance equipment.
The growing preference for phased array systems has led to many telecommunication companies investing heavily in this technology. Several enterprises have even developed state-of-the-art products to cater to the demands of their customer base. For instance, in June 2024, Fujikura Ltd., a major telecom company based in Tokyo, announced the launch of FutureAccess™, a 28-GHz-band phased array antenna module (PAAM). Developed for 5G base stations, this Type-C high-power version module was presented by the company at the IEEE International Microwave Symposium 2024, held in Columbia, US. Along with this, the company showcased its 256-element antenna system with four PAAMs which are designed to facilitate long-distance communication seamlessly. The event also featured presentations and seminars by the company showcasing the product's features.
In summary, the significant growth in the satellite communication industry is due to the increasing adoption of IoT-enabled devices and autonomous systems. The rising preference for LEO satellites and the advent of phased array antennas are predicted to create new growth opportunities in the industry.
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Akhilesh Prabhugaonkar
Author's Bio- Akhilesh Prabhugaonkar holds a bachelors degree in Electronics Engineering from the reputed Vishwakarma Institute of Technology. He has a special interest in the fields of forensics, world history, international relations and foreign policy, sports, agriculture, astronomy, security, and oceanography. An ardent bibliophile and melophile, Akhilesh loves to write on topics of his interest and various other societal issues. This love for writing made him enter the professional world of content writing and pursue his career in this direction.
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