Dr. Leslie Klein reports

C-COM PHASED ARRAY ANTENNA ACHIEVES SIGNIFICANT STEP TOWARDS COMMERCIALIZATION

C-COM Satellite Systems Inc.'s electronically steerable phased array antenna has passed another milestone test, delivering good results at different scanned angles over the Telesat Anik F3 satellite.

"Our 1,024-element electronically steerable Ka-band prototype phased array mobile antenna performed as expected during scanned angle testing," said Bilal Awada, chief technology officer of C-COM Satellite Systems. "We were able to perform speed tests over satellite for scanned angles down to 50 degrees from vertical (antenna boresight)," added Mr. Awada.

"Measured over-the-air scan results are in line with theoretical numbers from our simulation model and this again validates the high performance of the compact, scalable antenna modules and overall system architecture for larger panels," said Prof. Ali Safavi-Naeini, director of CIARS (Centre for Intelligent Antenna and Radio Systems) at the University of Waterloo.

"The modular, intelligent technology platform provides a cost-effective solution for a wide range of applications -- from fixed to mobility satellite broadband services, and for the rapidly emerging millimetre-wave 5G cellular services," he added.

The company will continue to move forward and will conduct additional tests to verify the performance of the antenna over several different satellites, including GEO/LEO constellations, and to confirm mobility and interoperability of the new design.

This advanced phased array Ka-band antenna is expected to open new mobile vertical markets (land, marine, aero) for the company.

The prototyping of a 4,000-element antenna using the same building blocks to build the 1,000-element antenna is in progress. The commercialization planning phase for this new antenna is under way.

"Today, we are much closer to achieving our objective of delivering an affordable, electronically steerable antenna system capable of operating over the latest constellations of LEO, MEO and GEO satellites, which will play a significant role in delivering broadband solutions to worldwide markets," said Dr. Leslie Klein, president and chief executive officer of C-COM Satellite Systems.

C-COM expects flat panel antennas (FPA), which comprise less than 1 per cent of all satellite terminal market sales today, to constitute up to 15 per cent of the market by 2030. According to Northern Sky Research, a global market research and consulting firm focused on the satellite and space sectors, FPA shipments could reach $17-billion over the next decade. "FPAs will be in large demand worldwide over the coming decade and C-COM intends to be part of that market," added Dr. Klein.

About C-COM Satellite Systems Inc.

C-COM Satellite Systems is an innovator and leading global provider of mobile on the pause satellite-based antenna systems. The company designs, develops and manufactures proprietary, auto-acquisition antenna systems for rapid antenna pointing to a satellite, with just the press of a button. This technology makes it possible to deliver broadband Internet via satellite across a wide range of market applications worldwide, including regions unserved or underserved by terrestrial access technologies.

C-COM has sold more than 8,500 antenna systems in over 100 countries through a dedicated dealer network that provides service to a wide range of vertical markets, such as oil and gas exploration, military communications, disaster management, SNG, emergency communications, cellular backhaul, telemedicine, mobile education, government services, mobile banking, and others. The company's iNetVu brand is synonymous with high quality, reliability and cost-effectiveness.

C-COM is in late-stage development of a potentially revolutionary Ka-band, electronically steerable, modular, conformal, flat panel phased array antenna. In co-operation with the University of Waterloo, C-COM is engaged in the design of this unique antenna with the intent of providing low-cost, high-throughput mobility applications over satellite for land, airborne and maritime verticals.

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