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System on Chip design resources
System on Chip design resources
August 6, 2026 -
EnSilica has joined the 5G-aNTeNna consortium, a European initiative focused on developing compact and secure 5G Non-Terrestrial Network (5G-NTN) user terminals for the European Union's IRIS² satellite communications programme.
The project is led by Silicon Austria Labs (SAL) and brings together a group of European technology companies and research organisations, including CISC Semiconductor, FRITZ!, TechniSat, Terma Technologies and EnSilica. The consortium aims to develop broadband communications technology operating in the Ka-band to support Europe's next-generation sovereign satellite infrastructure.
The initiative is centred on the development of a compact 5G-NTN user terminal featuring an electronically steerable phased-array antenna. The technology is designed to provide secure and resilient satellite connectivity while supporting future commercial deployment of satellite broadband services across Europe.
EnSilica is contributing its expertise in satellite communications semiconductors, including application-specific standard products (ASSPs) and custom ASICs covering radio frequency (RF), millimetre-wave, mixed-signal and digital integrated circuit technologies.
As part of the project, the company is developing distributed digital beamforming and modem integrated circuits that will support hybrid phased-array antenna architectures. These systems combine analogue sub-arrays with digital beamforming techniques to optimise performance, power consumption and resistance to interference.
The consortium's work spans the full satellite terminal development process, from semiconductor design and radio technologies through to antenna systems, manufacturing and testing. The partners aim to strengthen Europe's ability to develop both satellite communications infrastructure and the associated user equipment ecosystem.
“EnSilica’s involvement in the 5G-aNTeNna consortium is a natural extension of our work in satellite communications silicon and of our collaboration with other European partners,” said Ian Lankshear, Chief Executive Officer of EnSilica.
“As satellite networks move towards wider deployment of 5G-NTN services, compact, electronically steerable user terminals will be critical, and our focus is on enabling the semiconductor technologies that make these systems practical and manufacturable for high-volume use,” he added.
The project forms part of wider European efforts to expand sovereign satellite communications capabilities through the IRIS² programme, with next-generation user terminals expected to play an important role in delivering secure broadband connectivity across the region.
IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite) is designed to provide resilient, high-speed connectivity for governments, businesses and citizens across Europe and beyond and is intended to strengthen Europe's digital sovereignty and reduce reliance on non-European satellite communications infrastructure.