Digital IF

Competitiveness & Growth

Status

Ongoing
Status date

2022-10-11
Activity Code

6B.064

Objectives

To develop technology to enable the conversion of existing satellite communications IF ground architecture from analogue to digital, through the introduction of digital IF transport streams.

Challenges

Trade-offs between signal performance and cost of transport
Limitations of current convertor technology
Limitations of FPGA processing speed within the framework of the above
Ensuring additional signal processing does not increase system latency beyond acceptable limits

Benefits

Digital IF allows the physical decoupling of the antenna sites from data processing sites
Enhanced RF signal quality
Provision of a more robust digital encryption environment
Reduced operating and capex costs for the user
Operational flexibility
Diversity site connectivity

Features

Digitisation of L band IF signals (850MHz to 2150/2450MHz)
Utilisation of standard GbE links between world-wide sites (existing IP infra-structure)
Scalable architecture
Smaller physical footprint
Lower environmental footprint

System Architecture

Plan

The project is split across three phases, namely:

Definition Phase

Requirements definition
SOW and preliminary design

Technology Phase

Critical design
Prototyping and evaluation

Product Phase

DVT & qualification
SAT and Productionisation

Current status

The project started on 2nd September 2019. The CDR was successfully completed in April 2021 and the is on track for the Technical Readiness Review in October 2022. Field trials are expected to start at the end of 2022.