IQ spacecom and RBC Signals have launched their jointly developed Go.BIC service — this service is designed to provide inter-satellite connections for LEO operators and is powered by Viasat’s global L-band satellite network.
IQ spacecom and RBC Signals have developed different service concepts based on the Go.BIC service. These service concepts meet all possible operational requirements, can be individually customized and even support time-sensitive space applications. Communication links can be either pre-booked or made available on short notice. The billing is based on minutes of use.
Go.BIC complements existing ground station networks to extend connectivity to previously unreachable regions, such as oceans, ensuring satellite operators can maintain communication at any time. As a result, it improves operational efficiency by providing cost effective telemetry and telecommand options, giving LEO satellite operators greater flexibility and control over their missions. This is critical for time-sensitive space applications, including natural disaster monitoring and real-time satellite maneuvering.
At the heart of the system is IQ spacecom’s XLink-L SDR platform and L-band patch antennas on board the LEO satellite, combined with RBC Signals’ ground station infrastructure and Spectrum Trading Orchestration and Resource Management (STORM) platform. Leveraging Viasat’s L-band network of geostationary (GEO) satellites, Go.BIC provides real-time allocation of L-band capacity on a global scale, tailored to the specific needs of LEO satellite operators.
Dr. Kurt Winter, CEO of IQ Technologies, said, “We are proud to be able to offer a market-ready solution in such a short time together with RBC Signals. Go.BIC will enable new horizons for satellite operators.”
Ron Faith, CEO of RBC Signals, said, “We believe the Go.BIC service, with its flexibility and improved efficiency, will be highly beneficial for a wide range of applications. We look forward to solving many of the industry’s challenges.”
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 low earth orbit (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, using 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.
