IQ spacecom and RBC Signals join forces to deliver Go.BIC, the first, dynamic, Global On-Demand, Bi-directional Intersatellite Connection Service, aimed at supporting inter-satellite connections for LEO operators — connectivity for the service will be powered by Viasat’s global, L-band satellite network.
RBC Signals, a pioneering provider of satellite data communication solutions with a vast ground station network, is partnering with IQ spacecom, a product branch of the German IQ Technologies for Earth and Space GmbH, known for its more than 15 years of experience in broadband data communication for small satellites. Together, the companies have launched Go.BIC, a highly flexible service set to support inter-satellite connections for LEO satellites.
Go.BIC will use dynamic, on-demand capacity from Viasat’s global L-band network of GEO satellites. This first of a kind service ensures real-time allocation of L-band capacity on a global scale, specifically tailored to meet the needs of LEO operators.
The service complements existing ground station networks to extend coverage to previously unconnected regions like remote oceans, bridging communication gaps for satellite operators worldwide and making their satellites reachable at any point of time. This enhances operational efficiency and offers cost-effective telemetry and telecommand options, empowering LEO satellite operators with improved flexibility and control over their missions.
Designed to cater to time-sensitive space applications, Go.BIC facilitates on-demand communication with LEO satellites without waiting for ground station passes. Serving scientific missions, university projects, satellite manufacturers and operators, Go.BIC can facilitate a variety of use cases including satellite tasking (TM/TC), scheduled data transmission, natural disaster monitoring, real-time satellite maneuvering, and backup communications.
Go.BIC is powered by IQ spacecom’s
XLink-L SDR platform and its L-band patch antennas onboard the LEO satellite, combined with RBC Signals’ ground station infrastructure and Spectrum Trading Orchestration and Resource Management (STORM) platform.
In January, IQ spacecom, RBC Signals and Viasat successfully completed Over-the-Air tests: a pivotal milestone in validating the robustness and reliability of this solution. This lays the foundation for widespread adoption and deployment.
The next phase includes an In-Orbit Demonstration mission with the XLink-L platform that is slated for later in 2024.
Dr. Kurt Winter, CEO of IQ Technologies, said, “We firmly believe that this solution represents a significant step forward in advancing satellite communication capabilities and will meet the evolving demands of the global market.”
Ron Faith, CEO of RBC Signals, said, “This collaboration represents a milestone in small satellite communications. By combining both our industry expertise with Viasat’s L-band network, we will significantly enhance the capabilities of the industry.”
Andy Kessler, Vice President, Viasat Enterprise and Land Mobile, said “Our connectivity can help operators work more safely, sustainably, efficiently, and with assured security. It’s exciting to see innovative partners like IQ spacecom and RBC Signals bringing that reliable connectivity to every domain – including now Low Earth Orbit.”
IQ Technologies for Earth and Space GmbH (former IQ wireless GmbH), headquartered in Berlin, Germany, is a well-established business for more than 20 years with two main innovative business units: IQ FireWatch and IQ spacecom. IQ FireWatch provides a terrestrial early detection system of fires in forests, outdoor industrial facilities, and wildland-urban interfaces.
IQ spacecom comprises high-performance radio communication solutions providing flexible and highly efficient broadband data communication for small satellites, such as CubeSats. The equipment has been qualified for several years of operation in LEO and is used for scientific missions, Earth observation, remote sensing and communication solutions. Outstanding hardware and software platforms enable a fast, flexible and reliable adaptation to customer-specific requirements. More than 50 employees are constantly developing the products and optimizing them to meet the needs of the customers, in order to be able to provide solutions for complex requirements of the future. The technical innovations of IQ Technologies for Earth and Space GmbH are researched, developed, manufactured, and tested at the headquarters in Berlin.
RBC Signals is an innovative provider of global satellite data communication products and solutions. They offer secure space communication solutions in every major frequency band, utilizing a worldwide network of both company-owned and partner-owned systems. RBC Signals delivers dynamic solutions offering affordability, flexibility, and resiliency. Their diverse products and services enable them to be a complete end-to-end solution provider for every organization that needs best-in-class multi-network solutions.
Viasat is a global communications company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be connected. With offices in 24 countries around the world, our mission shapes how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the world communicate and connect. Viasat is developing the ultimate global communications network to power high-quality, reliable, secure, affordable, fast connections to positively impact people’s lives anywhere they are—on the ground, in the air or at sea, while building a sustainable future in space. In May 2023, Viasat completed its acquisition of Inmarsat, combining the teams, technologies and resources of the two companies to create a new global communications partner.
