EnSilica is celebrating a €1.7 million second phase contract as part of a satellite payload communications ASIC programme.

The award is from an undisclosed European satellite manufacturer.

The contract follows the completion of an earlier funded feasibility contract. This was one of three satellite payload feasibility studies announced by the Abingdon-based company in November last year.

The project is expected to be delivered over 10 months. And EnSilica will develop the system architecture, signal processing algorithms and systems demonstrator device required before the ASIC enters the full development phase.

Comms ASICs

“We are delighted to have been selected again by this key European satellite manufacturer to continue this important programme,” said Ian Lankshear, Chief Executive Officer of EnSilica, pictured. “The contract further strengthens EnSilica’s position as a leading European supplier of complex communications ASICs for the space and communications sector and reflects our growing expertise in satellite payload and advanced digital signal processing.”

“We are pleased to be trusted to continue, and we look forward to working closely with the customer as the programme progresses towards full ASIC development.”

5G-aNTeNna

Additionally, Ensilica is also joining the European 5G-aNTeNna consortium, which is led by Silicon Austria Labs. This is to help develop user terminals for the EU’s IRIS² satellite constellation.

The consortium consists of six European companies developing a compact user terminal combining 5G non-terrestrial network connectivity (5G-NTN) with efficient phased array antennas intended to deliver resilient Ka-band broadband

EnSilica will be providing ASSPs (application-specific standard products) for satellite user terminals. The project moves EnSilica into the ground segment, the company highlights. Giving it a platform to address the wider satcom market as it moves to 5G-NTN.

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