Satellite terminals
Innovative satellite terminals, core terminal technology and antennas for your network, applications, and environments.
The future is now. Satellite terminals must handle ever more complex protocols, waveforms and orbits over wider spans of spectrum in an increasingly competitive market – whilst operating from a diverse and challenging array of platforms. Our team of satellite experts can help you identify and quickly take the large steps forward that you need to catch up and compete.
Working with you to develop, manufacture, and bring to market world-class terminals for your service
In today’s competitive market, we are applying more than two decades of experience developing satcom products and technologies to accelerate terminal development in several ways:
Core modules and terminal technologies
Protocol stacks, physical layers (PHYs), radio hardware, and a host of other technologies are needed in all terminals: UAV’s, crewed aircraft, vehicular, maritime, manpack, etc. TTP can develop this common core, integrate and test it with your network before rolling it out to terminal manufacturers as a pre-approved module and terminal development kit with development support, allowing a range of terminals to be rapidly and cost effectively brought to market.
Custom terminal implementations
Specific use-cases, platforms or industries may require bespoke terminal developments. TTP create terminals and antennas for new applications, such as BLVOS operation of UAVs through innovative design and appropriate trade-offs. We can also certify terminals for use within your markets; for example, assurance to aviation’s DO-178C and DO-254 airworthiness standards, environmental qualification to DO-160G or to military standards such as MIL-STD-810G and MIL-STD-461G.
Integration and commissioning
After the terminals have been designed and built, you need to deploy them. We don’t need to step back, TTP offers comprehensive support for rapid integration onto your network and commissioning with your customer's application. The faster they’re on your network, the sooner you’ll be earning service revenues.
We worked with Inmarsat to define, design, implement, test, transfer to manufacture and complete the regulatory approvals of the pre-certified BRM. This large and ambitious software and hardware development programme was delivered by a relatively small, highly integrated, multidisciplinary team on time and to budget and the resulting modem module met Inmarsat’s unit cost target and performance criteria.
Satellite & Space Team
TTP
Over the next 8-10 years, we expect the presence of uncrewed vehicles in mixed airspace to outgrow that of commercial air transport. Leveraging TTP’s expertise, our new UAV terminals are designed to offer scalable and robust multi-link communications that are less reliant on existing infrastructure. This advancement supports the digital ecosystem and will significantly contribute to the modernisation of air traffic programmes.
Anthony Spouncer
Senior Director of Advanced Air Mobility, Viasat
Understanding the unique conditions presented by the harsh environment at sea, we partnered with TTP and SpaceCom to develop ELMA and deliver the reliable, resilient satellite communications capabilities that mariners need and expect from Viasat Government Services. Leveraging the exceptional capabilities of TTP to provide systems engineering along with SpaceCom’s proven capabilities in antenna development and integration of L-band systems, ELMA is the first of its kind L-band system, revolutionizing the capabilities of the Viasat ELERA network.
Alex Hayes
Sr. Director, Product Development & Engineering at Viasat Government Services
How we can help
Protocol stacks
These rules and conventions help ensure efficient and reliable satcom performance.
Specifications and standards. We has developed protocol stacks for use in satcom terminals from the ground up using network operator specifications and industry standards or created our own when the need arises. These include BGAN, 5G NTN, DVB-S2X, Return Channel via Satellite (RCS), LEO/MEO protocols for fast-moving satellites and mesh protocols among others.
Physical layer
The PHY handles the transmission and reception of data streams over the RF or optical mediums in real time.
Custom or standards-based waveforms. Dependent on the characteristics of the RF link available, satcom terminals PHY’s pack as much digital data into the RF bandwidths and time slots available as possible. As well as maximising data throughput, we also develop waveforms to meet other goals such as LPI/LPD and anti-jamming.
Environmental and SWaP-C
Reducing size, weight and power of a terminal makes a terminal more flexible and able to be deployed in a wider range of scenarios but brings challenges such as managing heat dissipation.
Be it maritime, on the battlefield or in the stratosphere, our engineers design and then thoroughly test hardware for long term reliable operation in its environment.
To achieve a low-cost product, from initial architecture, component selection and sourcing, through to its manufacturing approach, unit cost needs to be a managed all the way through its development.
Read our case studies:
Developing a low SWaP-C satellite communications terminal for UAVs with Viasat
Antennas
Satcom terminals use a variety of antennas, each suited for specific applications and operational requirements.
Form L band through to Q Band, our antenna experts develop compact omni directional antennas to multi-beam digital beam forming arrays. Compact omni directional antennas with simplified operation – no pointing required, have enable terminals light enough for applications such as enabling BVLOS operation of UAVs. Highly directive multi-beam phase arrays are critical for optimising data throughput and latency of your network whist also providing resilient multi-orbit (LEO, MEO, GEO) communications.
Transfer to manufacture
Our prototypes are suited for small-batch, in-house managed fabrication or transfer to third parties for scaled manufacturing.
Depending on client preference and requirements, we can leverage our in-house and local networks capacity for satellite terminal prototyping and small-batch production; or turn to well-vetted manufacturers from around the world to produce larger volumes at lower costs.
Assurance, type approval and compliance.
Compliance with the standards, specifications and regulations needed for your development is built into the TTP way. We employ aerospace design and product assurance principles with PDR/CDR/FDR type review gates utilising either your own, or our standards tailored to your product and market to demonstrate compliance to the requirements. This typically requires environmental qualification, operator specific type approval testing, and CE, FCC regulatory testing.
Customer support
In addition to engineering solutions to your specific requirements, We provide after-delivery support.
Integration and commissioning. Utilising powerful logging and analytical tools built into our designs, we can remain engaged with customers, to support network integration and terminal commissioning. Especially when working with new networks or when developing new markets, continuing to work with our team can accelerate your time-to-revenue and boost overall project success.
Protocol stacks
These rules and conventions help ensure efficient and reliable satcom performance.
Specifications and standards. We has developed protocol stacks for use in satcom terminals from the ground up using network operator specifications and industry standards or created our own when the need arises. These include BGAN, 5G NTN, DVB-S2X, Return Channel via Satellite (RCS), LEO/MEO protocols for fast-moving satellites and mesh protocols among others.
Physical layer
The PHY handles the transmission and reception of data streams over the RF or optical mediums in real time.
Custom or standards-based waveforms. Dependent on the characteristics of the RF link available, satcom terminals PHY’s pack as much digital data into the RF bandwidths and time slots available as possible. As well as maximising data throughput, we also develop waveforms to meet other goals such as LPI/LPD and anti-jamming.
Environmental and SWaP-C
Reducing size, weight and power of a terminal makes a terminal more flexible and able to be deployed in a wider range of scenarios but brings challenges such as managing heat dissipation.
Be it maritime, on the battlefield or in the stratosphere, our engineers design and then thoroughly test hardware for long term reliable operation in its environment.
To achieve a low-cost product, from initial architecture, component selection and sourcing, through to its manufacturing approach, unit cost needs to be a managed all the way through its development.
Read our case studies:
Developing a low SWaP-C satellite communications terminal for UAVs with Viasat
Antennas
Satcom terminals use a variety of antennas, each suited for specific applications and operational requirements.
Form L band through to Q Band, our antenna experts develop compact omni directional antennas to multi-beam digital beam forming arrays. Compact omni directional antennas with simplified operation – no pointing required, have enable terminals light enough for applications such as enabling BVLOS operation of UAVs. Highly directive multi-beam phase arrays are critical for optimising data throughput and latency of your network whist also providing resilient multi-orbit (LEO, MEO, GEO) communications.
Transfer to manufacture
Our prototypes are suited for small-batch, in-house managed fabrication or transfer to third parties for scaled manufacturing.
Depending on client preference and requirements, we can leverage our in-house and local networks capacity for satellite terminal prototyping and small-batch production; or turn to well-vetted manufacturers from around the world to produce larger volumes at lower costs.
Assurance, type approval and compliance.
Compliance with the standards, specifications and regulations needed for your development is built into the TTP way. We employ aerospace design and product assurance principles with PDR/CDR/FDR type review gates utilising either your own, or our standards tailored to your product and market to demonstrate compliance to the requirements. This typically requires environmental qualification, operator specific type approval testing, and CE, FCC regulatory testing.
Customer support
In addition to engineering solutions to your specific requirements, We provide after-delivery support.
Integration and commissioning. Utilising powerful logging and analytical tools built into our designs, we can remain engaged with customers, to support network integration and terminal commissioning. Especially when working with new networks or when developing new markets, continuing to work with our team can accelerate your time-to-revenue and boost overall project success.
Our approach and capabilities
We deliver across the entire life of a project, from opportunity discovery to production engineering. Discover how our interdisciplinary teams of experts collaborate to tackle the toughest product development challenges.
Our campus and facilities
Our award-winning campus has been designed with a clear vision. To create a space which can support our people and our clients as we develop and deliver the very best technology solutions.
Software capability at TTP
Engaged in all stages of software and product development, our software capability at TTP covers the full spectrum—from in-depth analysis and system architecture to prototype design, implementation, and test development.
Manufacturing capability at TTP
Working seamlessly with our development teams, we take clients' products through prototype builds, clinical trials, pilot manufacture and more. Using TTP Manufacturing reduces uncertainty, risk and time to market for our clients.
Meet some of the team
Lewis Davies
Paul Winter
Brian Butler
