Insider Brief
- EnSilica has secured £10.38 million in funding from the UK Space Agency’s Connectivity in Low-Earth Orbit program.
- This award, which spans the next three years, will support the company’s development of semiconductor chips designed for next-generation satellite broadband user terminals.
- EnSilica’s initiative will not only provide a resilient and secure chip source but also ensure independence from specific satellite service operators.
EnSilica, a mixed signal ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) design provider, announced it has secured £10.38 million in funding from the UK Space Agency’s Connectivity in Low-Earth Orbit (C-LEO) program. This award, which spans the next three years, will support the company’s development of semiconductor chips designed for next-generation satellite broadband user terminals.
The project aims to create chips that can be used across a variety of satellite constellations. These user terminals, which require hundreds of specialized chips to build electronically steerable antennas, will help connect users to satellite internet services. EnSilica’s initiative will not only provide a resilient and secure chip source but also ensure independence from specific satellite service operators.
The satellite user terminal market is projected to grow rapidly. EnSilica’s development focuses on supporting the mass-market adoption of these terminals, with a forecasted market value of around $16.5 billion by 2031. EnSilica’s approach is expected to reduce both the cost and power requirements of these user terminals, contributing to more affordable satellite broadband solutions.
The C-LEO program, launched by the UK Space Agency last year, aims to help the UK space sector remain competitive as low-earth orbit satellite constellations continue to grow. With a funding pool of up to £160 million available over the next four years, the initiative supports the development of smarter satellites, enhanced hardware, AI-driven data delivery, and improved inter-satellite connections.
EnSilica’s CEO, Ian Lankshear, expressed his excitement about the award, saying, “We are honoured and proud to have won this highly significant award from the UK Space Agency under the C-LEO programme. This funding will enable us to advance our technology and bring innovative solutions to the satellite broadband market, benefiting society by offering resilient internet connectivity in times of crisis and high-speed internet for remote communities.”
Image credit: Ensilica
