LONDON, UK: EnSilica (AIM:ENSI), a leading mixed signal chip maker, has been awarded a €5m contract to develop a new chip to address the next generation of mass market satellite broadband user terminals.

The Contract has been awarded in the framework of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems Core Competitiveness programme (“ARTES CC”), through the support of the UK Space Agency.

The activities included in the Contract are co-funded (75%) by the ARTES CC programme. The ARTES CC programme is designed to support industry to develop the next generation of telecommunications technologies, products and systems in the satellite communication market. The Contract foresees development activities over 2 years.

EnSilica will develop its own satellite broadband chip, to enable the next generation of low-cost, low-power satellite broadband user terminals. This type of component is a key enabler for user terminals operating with low earth orbit (LEO) satellite systems.

User terminals track the relative movement of the satellites, allowing users to access high capacity connectivity in a very wide range of use cases, including automotive, maritime and aerospace connectivity, as well as connectivity for rural households.

EnSilica has a strong track record within the satellite market, having successfully completed a €2.2m (75% co-funded) ARTES CC contract with ESA in 2019 to develop the Company’s own mmWave chip, which is another key component in the next generation of affordable, low-power, consumer-scale electronically steerable antennas.

The Company is also working with satellite user terminal providers to optimise the chipset to meet the needs of their next generation of products.

Ian Lankshear, Chief Executive Officer of EnSilica plc, commented: “The sizeable satellite communications market is a growth driver for our business, and we are delighted to be continuing our successful partnership with both UKSA and ESA to further develop innovative semiconductor solutions for the next generation of satellite broadband user terminals.

Given the high number of chips per antenna, and the millions of users that could adopt these services, the potential growth within this market could be significant for our business in the medium term.”

Henny Sands, Head of Telecoms at the UK Space Agency, said: “EnSilica’s plan to develop an innovative chip to enable a wide range of satellite broadband user terminals is a brilliant example of the diversity of expertise in the UK’s leading satellite communications sector.

“Through the ARTES CC programme the UK Space Agency aims to champion UK companies that have the right expertise and ambition to become global players in this market and lead on ground-breaking technologies that will enhance the wider UK space sector, create jobs and generate further investment. That’s why we recently announced £50 million of funding for ambitious and innovative projects that will supercharge the UK’s satellite communications industry.”

Dietmar Schmitt, Head of Technologies & Products Division at ESA, said, “ESA is pleased to continue our collaboration with EnSilica through the ARTES Core Competitiveness programme and to support this important technology development, which will facilitate the provision of high capacity connectivity across a wide range of use cases.”