LOGAN, Utah – Kongsberg Satellite Services announced Aug. 8 an automated ground network for small satellite constellations that includes Ka-band.
Historically, only KSAT provided Ka-band antennas at ground sites for specific customers and their missions. Meanwhile, KSATlite, the company’s standard product for small satellite operators, was limited to S-band and X-band.
After surveying customers, KSAT determined it was time to add Ka-band to the KSATlite network.
“Now that we’ve seen there is a greater demand, we’ve added this additional capability within the KSATlite network,” Ruben Nunez, KSAT USA head of business development, told SpaceNews.
Tri-Band Antennas
KSAT is purchasing small-aperture tri-band antennas for KSATlite ground station locations. The antennas will provide S-band uplink and downlink, X-band downlink and Ka-band downlink.
“Adding tri-band antennas at these selected sites around the world will further streamline operations, enhance resource allocation for optimal performance and ensure reliable and secure communication regardless of geographical constraints,” according to KSAT’s Aug. 8 news release.
Growing Traffic
KSAT has rapidly expanded its network of antennas in recent years to keep up with growing data traffic. In June, the Norwegian company unveiled its 23rd ground station in Jeju, South Korea.
“The launch of the KSATlite Ka-band network showcases our ability to provide seamless and versatile connectivity solutions to our customers, with exceptional reliability and unmatched performance”, Marte Indregard, KSAT chief commercial officer, said in a statement.
This article was updated Aug. 9 with comments from Ruben Nunez, KSAT USA head of business development.
