The Challenge to Develop the Perfect Flat Panel Satellite Communications Terminal: The Perfect SATCOM Terminal

Abstract

The large investments in new satellite communications (SATCOM) constellations are driving the demand for flat panel antennas (FPAs). We are already seeing the growing adoption of the technology in commercial and military applications. As more of the new constellations become operational, this adoption is projected to explode. There are a wide range of SATCOM terminal needs across the different market segments that are also dependent on what constellation(s) they might be using. The major markets include consumer, commercial mobility, enterprise, and government. While each of these markets have unique requirements—or limitations—on size, weight, power draw, throughput performance, cost, and ruggedness, there is some overlap, as shown in <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Figure 1</xref> . Generally, the consumer market can be separated from the other applications, given their unique requirements. While these consumer terminals can meet some needs in all markets, they are very limited outside of their primary use. The other three markets have significantly more overlap in requirements, with ruggedness being a key differentiator from consumer terminals. With that differentiator, prices are higher, most applications can sustain higher power draw, and many demand higher throughput performances. This does not mean that each segment may have some classes of terminals with unique requirements that do not overlap any other.