KIPP is the first commercial LEO spacecraft to operate in Ku-band, a highly sought-after frequency band for satellite communications among many of the planned mega constellations such as the recently awarded spectrum license to operate the 140 satellite LEO constellation.
Comtech EF Data Corp. and Kepler Communications, have announced a partnership that will result in delivering rapidly deployable, low-cost, low-latency communications via Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites and ground station infrastructure equipment.
Kepler Communications contracted with Comtech EF Data’s AHA Products Group to provide the on-board satellite waveform processing technology to operate on its flexible software defined satellite radio payload. Kepler Communications also contracted with Comtech EF Data to provide its CDM-760 Advanced High-Speed Trunking and Broadcast Modem to perform satellite to ground testing and ground to satellite data services.
Kepler Communications is a satellite communications company that is building an in-space telecommunications network for space-borne assets that will resolve the problem of intermittent connectivity for non-geostationary satellites and will open new business opportunities that necessitate real-time connectivity to satellites, reducing reliance on costly and difficult to deploy ground infrastructure.
Comtech EF Data Corp. is a subsidiary within Comtech Telecommunications Corp.'s (NASDAQ: CMTL) Commercial Solutions segment, that provides satellite bandwidth efficiency and link optimization with their communication solutions.
Kepler Communication’s first Ku-Band LEO satellite, KIPP, was launched on January 19, 2018, enabling data offload services to remote communities and maritime markets. KIPP is the first in a planned constellation of up to 140 LEO satellites that will provide real-time global connectivity by 2022. Today, KIPP is tasked with delivering Kepler’s Store-and-Forward service for the transmission of latent tolerable data.
CDM-760 Advanced High-Speed Trunking and Broadcast Modem
Lou Dubin, Senior Vice President of Product Management & Marketing for Comtech EF Data, commented, “Kepler Communications offers a unique business model and opportunity for customers looking to leverage store and forward communications today in a global environment. We believe that LEO constellations will bring both new opportunities and demands to the satellite community, and are very pleased to be working with Kepler Communications as it aggressively addresses this market. We will continue to push Comtech core competencies into strategic growth environments.”
"Comtech EF Data is a recognized leader in space communications technology, making the collaboration choice an easy one," said Wen Cheng Chong, Chief Technology Officer for Kepler Communications. "Comtech's support for our project has been excellent, and we see its commitment to LEO and Kepler as validation of the opportunities that Low Earth Orbit presents for the satellite industry and its end-users."
Comtech EF Data Corp. provides satellite bandwidth efficiency and link optimization with their communication solutions that encompass the Heights Networking Platform, Advanced VSAT Solutions, Satellite Modems, RAN & WAN Optimization, Network & Bandwidth Management and RF products. The solutions enable commercial and government users to reduce OPEX/CAPEX and to increase throughput for fixed and mobile/transportable satellite-based applications.