A SCOTTISH radio technology company has received significant space agency backing to advance a satellite platform it claims could provide communications networks with power usage savings of up to 70 per cent.
Sofant Technologies hailed the €7.3 million backing from the UK Space Agency and the European Space Agency to support the commercialisation of its satellite product.
The Edinburgh based business said its low-cost low-power satellite communications platform solves the most pressing power consumption and heat problems faced by the next generation of 5G and satellite communications systems.
The announcement comes as Sofant Technologies gears up for its first Series A funding round, which it said would be used to scale its base in Edinburgh and triple its headcount from 16 to 48 over the contract period.
The funding – secured under an Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) contract – will support Sofant Technologies to complete the commercialisation of a satellite communication terminal, which it said will allow users to connect to the cloud via a new generation of low-latency, super-fast satellite networks.
It is claimed that Sofant’s platform will enable satellite communication (SatCom) and 5G wireless networks to operate with 70% less power, a significant step forward as 5G adoption accelerates towards one billion users by 2022, "eliminating the need for complex and expensive cooling systems".
Sofant Technologies’ terminal will also reduce the requirement for terrestrial infrastructure and make it easier for people in rural and remote locations to get online by connecting devices wirelessly via a satellite network.
The firm said that its technology is moving towards further environmental savings with the potential to be powered by renewable energy. Those relying on solar or wind technology in rural locations will have the ability to connect via their own power sources, further reducing individual carbon footprints in the pursuit of neutral carbon emissions by 2050, it said.
David Wither, chief executive of Sofant Technologies, said: “We are honoured that the UKSA and the ESA have agreed to support the commercialisation of Sofant’s technology.
"They have a clear understanding of the technical challenges faced by the satellite communications industry as it seeks to exploit the promise of a new generation of satellite networks.
"They also share our belief that a scalable technology platform which solves power consumption and heat problems in phased array antennas is critical for the future wireless communications. We look forward to working with the team at the ESA throughout this project.”
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