ThinKom’s new Q- and V-band terminals designed for operation on next-generation satellites. Photo: ThinKom

ThinKom Solutions is developing a new phased-array user terminal designed to operate in higher millimeter-wave frequency bands to work with next-generation satellite constellations in  Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) and Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO). The terminal, announced July 13, will operate in the Q- and V-band frequencies. 

The Electronically Scanned Arrays (ESAs) will be offered in configurations for aeronautical and ground-based fixed and mobile applications. It will be based on ThinKom’s patented VICTS (Variable Inclination Continuous Transverse Stub) technology, and the company said it has built and tested similar Q-band antennas. 

ThinKom CTO Bill Milroy said the terminals will support two simultaneous full-duplex beams that can be independently pointed at two different satellites, a feature that is highly desired in the LEO/MEO connectivity space. “This new phased-array development is timed to fully enable the upcoming frequency revolution that promises to unlock massive new available bandwidth at these higher MMW frequencies for next-generation LEO and MEO satellite constellations,” Milroy said. 

ThinKom did not share when the terminals might become commercially available.