Behind the investment is the company Satcube in collaboration with Forsway, Gapwaves and Chalmers. The project is one of ten that the innovation authority Vinnova recently decided to finance with SEK 4 million within the framework of the area of ​​smarter electronic systems.

LEO stands for Low Earth Orbit and is the orbits around the earth that in recent years have perhaps been most hyped – much thanks to Elon Musk’s investments in the field. The advantage of placing communication satellites in LEO orbits is that it does not require as powerful communication equipment as if the satellites had been placed further out of the earth.

This opens up opportunities to develop smaller but more powerful terminals that also consume less energy.

Provides global internet coverage

Gothenburg-based Satcube manufactures small portable satellite terminals that make it possible to use the Internet anywhere on earth – even where all other coverage is lacking. It is practical for media houses that want to report live from hotspots, but also for authorities that handle crisis situations when other infrastructure does not work.

At present, the terminals use geostationary satellites for their broadband communication, but the goal of the project together with Forsway, Gapwaves and Chalmers is to develop a solution that uses LEO instead of “geo”.

– The disadvantage of geostationary satellites is the delay that occurs, but with this solution you get basically the same response time as when using terrestrial networks. This means that you get a global broadband connection with 5g speed, regardless of whether you are in Antarctica or in the middle of the desert, says Lukas Nyström, project manager at Satcube, to Ny Teknik.

Follows the satellite’s orbit

The advantage of geostationary satellites is that the user knows exactly where the antenna should be directed. For Internet terminals that communicate with satellites in LEO orbits, on the other hand, antennas that follow the orbits of the satellites are required, something that the constellation with Satcube at the forefront will now work with.

– There are two different solutions for being able to follow the satellites. One is mechanical, the other electric, and we will take a closer look at both, says Lukas Nyström.

For an Internet terminal like Satcubes, the antenna part is the most expensive and the project will develop an antenna set for the so-called K / Ka band, which uses frequencies of 17-31 GHz, and test and evaluate additional functions around beam control and gap waveguide technology.

Launch on the market in 2023

Lukas Nyström does not want to reveal details about the schedule for the investment, but says that it is relatively quick to produce a prototype and that the launch on the market is planned for 2023.

The customer list for Satcube already includes the UN, Airbus, the Government of Japan, a number of different media houses and the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency. Last year, sales were SEK 46 million and among the investors is the business angel Jane Walerud.