Compact antenna platforms for IP on the move satellite applications – AMORCE

There is an increasing need for broadband wireless Satellite connection to Internet services in public transportations, like buses, aircrafts and high-speed trains. To offer such connections with a high quality of service, innovative, low-cost and compact antenna platforms must be invented and developed. Nowadays, it is possible to establish a radio link between a satellite and a mobile terminal, for instance for Internet connection of aircraft passengers, using nearly-omnidirectionnal antennas in L-band. In this case, due to the very narrow allocated frequency band, the data rate is extremely low. To offer broadband services for “IP on the move” applications, it is required to operate at higher frequencies, especially in Ku band (from 10.5 to 14.5 GHz) in linear polarisation, and later in Ka-band (in circular polarisation). As a consequence, directive antennas with high EIRP must be designed. In addition, the main beam direction of the antenna must coincide with the satellite positioning, whatever the location of the mobile is. For instance, to cover all Europe area, the corresponding antennas must be able to scan the beam over a 360° angular range in the horizontal plane, and between 20° and 60° angular range in the vertical plane. In addition, for double-deck high speed trains, there are a few centimetres available to accommodate the antenna platforms due to the height of the train cars and the tunnels. To conclude, there is no antenna solution today complying with the needs mentioned above.

The ultimate objective of this collaborative project is to invent new concepts of antenna platforms for “IP on the move applications” where very thin, directive, low cost and beam steering antennas are needed. To this end, a consortium gathering 5 partners has been built. It consists of one end-user (Thales Alenia Space – expert in base stations and user terminals for satellite applications), two SMEs (Ixmotion – expert in advanced mechanical platforms for beam scanning antennas; Innovative Business Partners – expert in the analysis of mobile communication services), and two academic partners (Institut d’Electronique et de Télécommunications de Rennes, UMR CNRS 6164 – expert in antenna design; LabSTICC / Telecom Bretagne expert in power amplifications). This project is coordinated by IETR.