Sivers Announces New SATCOM Beamforming ICs
Sivers Semiconductors has announced the general availability of its Cloudchaser Ka-band beamforming ICs and antenna panels. The new components are designed for next-generation phased array satellite communication terminals. This release targets the growing market for high-speed satellite internet and communication systems.
- Phased array antennas electronically steer beams without physical movement by manipulating the phase of signals sent to hundreds or thousands of antenna elements. This allows for rapid tracking of multiple satellites, crucial for maintaining connectivity with Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations, and offers a lower profile than traditional parabolic dishes. - The Ka-band frequency (26.5-40 GHz) provides significantly wider bandwidth than the Ku-band, enabling much higher data throughput for applications like high-definition video streaming and large-scale data backhaul. The global Ka-band satellite equipment market was valued at over $5.51 billion in 2025 and is projected to exceed $16.51 billion by 2035. - Sivers' new ICs are built on GlobalFoundries' 45RFSOI fabrication process, a silicon-on-insulator technology that enhances performance for high-frequency applications. This partnership is part of a broader trend of using advanced semiconductor materials, like Gallium Nitride (GaN) and RF-SOI, to improve power efficiency and linearity in SATCOM components. - The target applications for these components include in-flight connectivity, maritime communications, defense, and providing broadband to remote or underserved areas. For autonomous systems, this technology can provide the reliable, high-bandwidth connectivity required for beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) command and control of drones and robotic assets. - A key feature of Sivers' beamforming ICs is support for multi-beam operation, which allows a single terminal to communicate with multiple satellites simultaneously. This "make-before-break" capability is critical for seamless handoffs between LEO satellites as they move across the sky, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity. - In January 2025, Sivers announced a partnership with Intelsat and NXP to develop a next-generation digitizer for SATCOM terminals. This move up the value chain from RF front-end components to digital systems indicates a strategic expansion of their capabilities in the satellite communications market. - The small wavelengths of the Ka-band allow for smaller antenna sizes, which is a critical factor for mobile applications where size, weight, and power (SWaP) are primary constraints, such as on aircraft and vehicles. Electronically steered phased arrays also eliminate the need for bulky and maintenance-intensive mechanical gimbal systems.
