A silent revolution is underway in European space communications. Europe is deploying phased-array antennas, aiming to transform how satellites communicate with Earth. This technology, previously restricted to military uses, will now also be used in the civilian sector, especially after successful tests conducted by the European Space Agency (ESA) and partner companies such as Thales Alenia Space and TTI North. These next-generation antennas promise a faster and more efficient communication system for global connectivity.
How new antennas are changing the way we communicate via satellite
To understand this technology, it’s worth comparing it to older concepts: traditionally, ground stations used parabolic antennas that needed to physically move to track satellites. Phased-array antennas replace this mechanical movement with an electronic approach, directing the radio beam through digitally controlled signals, without moving parts.
As expected, this brings clear advantages such as greater speed, less wear and tear, and the possibility of connecting to multiple satellites simultaneously. During tests conducted in Belgium, an antenna of this type managed to communicate with a satellite of the European Galileo system, which orbits more than 23,000 kilometers from Earth. This range proved the antenna’s ability to handle multiple connections stably, thus allowing for a reduction in the number of ground stations needed and consequently lowering operational costs.
In addition to greater efficiency, the new generation of antennas will enable the transmission of larger volumes of data, something essential in growing satellite constellations like the second-generation Galileo, which will integrate new digital features and navigation systems.
Europe is betting on antennas in the Q/V spectrum to increase capacity
Another relevant aspect of this transformation lies in the expansion of frequencies used for communication. Currently, most satellites operate in the Ku and Ka bands, which are becoming congested due to the high number of connected devices. To solve this problem, companies like Thales Alenia Space are developing antennas that operate in the Q/V band, which consists of a very high frequency region that offers much more bandwidth and, therefore, greater data transmission capacity.
To make this technology viable, some innovations were necessary. In Toulouse, France, engineers at Thales Alenia Space created new electronic components based on gallium nitride (GaN), a semiconductor material that allows the construction of powerful and compact transmitters, which is essential for enabling the assembly of hundreds of transmitters side-by-side within an array antenna, while maintaining performance.
This level of advancement was made possible thanks to projects supported by ESA, such as the Technology Development Element program, which has been investing for years in components for antennas operating at increasingly higher frequencies. Ultimately, the result is a device capable of handling the exponential increase in data demand on satellite communication networks.
The new generation of antennas strengthens European technological autonomy
In addition to all the advances in technical efficiency, European investment in phased array antennas also represents a leap in technological sovereignty. Projects such as Galileo and the Thales Alenia Space antennas were developed almost entirely with European components and labor, which is strategically good for the continent, since it reduces dependence on external suppliers.
A decisive step towards the future of space communications
Advances in phased array antennas show that Europe not only keeps pace with, but is one of the leaders in the evolution of satellite communication. And now this tried and tested technology should take the next steps towards becoming a standard technology in the coming years, offering greater efficiency to space networks.
With this undertaking, which showcases innovation in advanced technology and international collaboration, the continent becomes a benchmark in global connectivity and takes the sector to a new level, where communication issues that persist to this day may cease to be a problem due to the use of satellites in space.