Filtronic wins £2m satellite communications contract

NETPark based, electronics manufacturer Filtronic has secured a £2m contract in the satellite communications market.

It has been appointed by an unnamed provider of low earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications equipment.

The contract, valued in excess of £2m, with revenue expected to be recognised in calendar year 2023, requires customisation and delivery of Filtronic’s Cerus solid state power amplifier (SSPA) module. The modules, and the related control boards, will be installed in selected ground stations for commercial trials of the E-band earth station antenna links to and from the LEO satellite.

Filtronic has also reported that revenue in the first half of the 2023 financial year was £8.4m, up from £8m in 2022, representing 5 per cent growth, with £1m of adjusted EBITDA.

Richard Gibbs, chief executive at Filtronic, said: “We are delighted to engage with a highly respected new customer at the leading edge of LEO space communications. As the number of subscribers to LEO telecommunication services grow, maintaining network speed will become an increasingly important consideration for the service operator.

“E-band represents a viable licenced frequency band for the critical communication links to and from the orbiting satellite. Whilst terrestrial telecom companies have successfully used Filtronic E-band technology in their backhaul links for many years, this new contract award vindicates our decision to adapt Filtronic’s proprietary mmWave products for the emerging commercial LEO satellite market.”