SWISSto12 has completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) of S-band and Ka-band phased-array antennas for UNIVITY's 5G non-terrestrial network (NTN) demonstration satellites, clearing the way for flight hardware production. The antennas will enable UNIVITY to test broadband and direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity using a common satellite platform.
The Swiss company is developing two active direct radiating arrays (DRAs) for the programme. The S-band antenna will support direct connectivity between satellites and conventional 5G smartphones, while the Ka-band antenna, operating at 26 GHz, will provide broadband connectivity and feeder links. Integrating both capabilities into a single spacecraft is intended to support a flexible satellite architecture capable of serving different communications requirements.
The development forms part of UNIVITY's uniShape programme, which receives institutional support through France 2030 and the French space agency CNES. UNIVITY aims to establish a shared, neutral satellite infrastructure that mobile network operators can use to provide broadband and D2D services under their own brands, complementing existing terrestrial networks without requiring operators to develop dedicated satellite constellations.
SWISSto12 is supplying the antenna systems through its HummingLink product portfolio, combining additively manufactured passive radiating components with integrated filters, beamforming electronics and digital control systems. The company designs and manufactures the systems at its Swiss facilities, using 3D printing to produce specialised radio-frequency components and integrating the associated electronic subsystems.
The CDR was completed in less than a year, allowing the project to progress into hardware manufacturing, verification and acceptance testing. These activities will establish whether the antenna systems meet the technical and environmental requirements for satellite deployment before they can be integrated into UNIVITY's demonstration spacecraft.
The news advances UNIVITY's plans to develop a multi-service 5G NTN architecture combining satellite broadband and direct-to-smartphone communications. Such systems could allow mobile operators to access different satellite connectivity services through a common infrastructure, although their commercial viability will depend on payload performance, network integration and deployment economics.