New project intends to provide broadband internet to where terrestrial networks can't reach

Developing a transmission system and receiving an electronic guiding signal for future satellite constellations, which will have the task of providing broadband and low-cost internet. This is the main purpose of STRx project, to be developed by INESC TEC’s Centre for Telecommunications and Multimedia (CTM).

According to Luís Pessoa, a researcher of CTM who is responsible for the project, since the launch of thousands of satellites over the next years is expected in order to create mega constellations of satellites that will operate in low and medium orbit, “the satellite communication networks will have the task of enhancing the capacity of the terrestrial mobile networks and of providing home and business coverage in places where terrestrial networks can't reach”. On the other hand, they also provide “a high-performance alternative, mainly for the business and transport sectors, where the terrestrial networks don't have enough capacity”.

This way, the STRx project intends to address the existing gap in the market of this segment, by creating a low-cost electronically guided communication system with high data transfer rate to operate with non-stationary orbit satellites. The INESC TEC’s team is composed of Luís Pessoa, Henrique Salgado and João Canas Ferreira.

In addition to INESC TEC, STRx had Sinuta, S.A. (leading promoter) and the Instituto de Telecomunicações (IT) of Aveiro as partners. With a total investment of EUR 840 000, the project will last for three years.

The researchers mentioned in this news piece are associated with INESC TEC and UP-FEUP.