Euro Consortium Launches 5G-aNTeNna Project
A European research consortium has launched the 5G-aNTeNna project to develop a compact, secure satellite user terminal supporting 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks (5G-NTN) for the European Union's IRIS² satellite constellation.
Led by Silicon Austria Labs (SAL), the project brings together TechniSat, EnSilica, Terma Technologies, FRITZ! and CISC Semiconductor to develop a European-made Ka-band user terminal combining phased-array antenna technology with 5G-NTN communications. The terminal is intended to provide secure, resilient broadband connectivity for government, defence, enterprise and commercial applications while supporting Europe's objective of strengthening digital sovereignty.
5G-aNTeNna will cover the full development chain, from semiconductor design and radio technology to manufacturing and testing. EnSilica will contribute Ka-band beamformer and 5G-NTN modem chips, Terma Technologies will provide its SPECTRA software-defined radio platform, TechniSat will support manufacturing and product development, FRITZ! will contribute broadband networking expertise, while CISC Semiconductor will provide testing and verification capabilities.
The project aims to address a key requirement for the IRIS² programme: compact, scalable and cost-effective ground terminals capable of supporting next-generation satellite communications. Beyond government and defence applications, the partners see significant commercial potential as 5G-NTN services become more widely deployed, positioning Europe to build both sovereign satellite infrastructure and the supporting user equipment ecosystem.
SOURCE: https://www.silicon-austria-labs.com/en/news/details/project-5g-antenna-kick-off