Farcast provides compact satellite user terminals that use proprietary flat‑panel antennas with electronic beam‑steering to maintain broadband links for moving platforms. The design eliminates mechanical parts, reducing size, weight, power consumption and cost while supporting both GEO and LEO constellations. The modular hardware integrates with standard satellite modems for vehicles, aircraft, maritime vessels and remote sites.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Broadband satellite connectivity for mobile platforms such as vehicles, aircraft, and maritime vessels is limited by the size, weight, power consumption, and cost of conventional user terminals, especially when tracking moving satellites or users. Existing active electronically scanned antenna (AESA) solutions are often too bulky and expensive for widespread deployment in these scenarios.
Solution
Farcast delivers compact satellite user terminals that incorporate proprietary flat‑panel antennas (FPAs) with electronic beam‑scanning capability. The FPAs dynamically steer the antenna beam to compensate for motion of the satellite, the user, or both, maintaining a stable link without mechanical parts. By integrating the beam‑forming function into a low‑profile panel, the terminals achieve reduced size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP‑C) compared with traditional AESA hardware. The architecture supports both geostationary (GEO) satellites for moving users and low‑Earth‑orbit (LEO) constellations where the satellite itself moves, enabling broadband internet access across a wide range of mobile and remote applications.
Target Audience
Primary customers are satellite broadband service providers and OEMs that equip vehicles, aircraft, ships, and remote sites with mobile internet connectivity, as well as defense and enterprise users requiring lightweight, low‑cost satellite terminals.
Features
- Flat‑panel antenna design that replaces bulky parabolic dishes while providing full electronic beam steering
- Real‑time beam‑scanning algorithms that track satellite and user motion without mechanical actuators
- Integrated AESA front‑end with low‑power RF components, reducing overall terminal power draw
- Modular hardware platform compatible with standard satellite modem interfaces for easy integration
- Support for GEO fixed‑satellite links with moving ground terminals and LEO moving‑satellite constellations
- Ruggedized enclosure and environmental sealing for vehicular, aviation, and maritime deployments
- Software‑defined control interface enabling remote configuration, firmware updates, and link optimization