Photo: Kymeta

Kymeta is taking the next step as it aims to bring better multi-orbit, multi-band communications to its customer base. It is teaming up with Japan Display Inc (JDI), to develop a new multi-band metasurface aperture to enable concurrent operation across Ku- and Ka-band satellite frequencies.

This collaboration aims to deliver what it claims will be the industry’s first multi-band, metasurface terminal. It says that this would mark a significant milestone in the evolution of multi-band, multi-orbit satellite communications. The two companies made the announcement, Feb. 4.

This collaboration marks the next critical phase in Kymeta’s multi-band product roadmap. The Ku/Ka metasurface terminal will be the first product to emerge, building on Kymeta’s previous announcement of a Ku/Ka antenna, capable of supporting both Ku and Ka band satellite frequencies simultaneously. The company said it will lay the groundwork for seamless satellite roaming across frequency bands and orbits.

Last year, Kymeta detailed a lab demonstration in which a prototype of a single aperture antenna was able to transmit and receive both Ka-band and Ku-band beams simultaneously.

Kymeta selected JDI for the company’s advanced capabilities in rigid flat-panel thin film transistor (TFT) manufacturing and high-volume production, saying the partnership will enable terminals to be built at scale.

“This partnership represents a pivotal transition for Kymeta as we move from technology development into product development, positioning ourselves to scale into high-volume applications. Our Ku/Ka breakthrough in 2025 demonstrated what was possible, and this partnership is about delivering that capability at scale. By collaborating with a world-class consumer electronics manufacturer like JDI, we are accelerating the path to market for the first Ku/Ka metasurface terminal needed for the next generation of defense and autonomous systems, while maintaining the integrity and security of the supply chain for this mission critical technology,” Manny Mora, President and CEO, Kymeta, said in a statement.