Kevin Dunne, Chief Executive Officer
As we approach 2025, the ongoing shift toward virtualization and digitization in the satellite communications (SATCOM) sector shows no signs of abating. Awareness around Digital Intermediate Frequency (DIF)—sometimes called ‘RF over IP’—technology is now far greater than it was 12 months ago.
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A Milestone Moment for DIF
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DIF represents a pivotal advancement in our sector, enabling the conversion of analogue RF signals to IP and back on live satellite links. This breakthrough was exemplified by the launch of the firm’s flagship product—GENUS DIGITAL 5000—at a recent tradeshow. This product fully meets the DIFI Consortium 1.2 standards and is the result of years of research and development, collaboration with partners such as the UK Space Agency and the DIFI Consortium, and rigorous testing.
While the transition to DIF will not be immediate, early adopters are already exploring its potential. DIF promises tangible benefits, including improved security, reduced CAP-EX and labour costs, and enhanced bandwidth management.
And, as the saying goes, ‘change is the only constant.’ We are already seeing the conversation around digitization evolving as interest shifts from a more traditional, wideband solution to a model where digitization occurs at the terminal/Edge, bringing the advantages of a more adaptable narrowband product closer to a VSAT network.
Ensuring Interoperability and Future Innovation
For DIF technology to achieve widespread adoption, interoperability with existing RF infrastructure remains crucial. As new digital applications emerge, ensuring compatibility with legacy systems will be key to a smooth transition.
This is a challenge ETL Systems is addressing head-on, working with the DIFI Consortium to ensure that the evolving specifications meet the industry’s needs. For perhaps the first time, the interoperability focus extends beyond satellite constellations to include ground infrastructure.
Looking ahead, ETL Systems is focused on a new project—partially funded by the UK Space Agency—to develop an advanced Digital IF solution that builds on the GENUS DIGITAL 5000 and adheres to the DIFI IEEE-ISTO 4900-2021 standards. This next-generation solution will not only enhance efficiency and scalability but unlock entirely new capabilities for the satellite communications sector.
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Investing in the Future
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As the industry evolves, it is equally essential that we are investing in the next generation of talent. We are committed to fostering the growth of this next wave of innovators.
As we continue to innovate, it is essential that we balance progress with the practical realities of maintaining and supporting legacy systems to ensure a cohesive and sustainable transition.
Our 2024 internship and summer programs provided students and recent graduates with hands-on experience across industry fields, from engineering and data analysis to project management and systems integration.
These programs aim to provide technical training as well as to inspire a new generation who are passionate about space and technological innovation.
Recent research undertaken by ETL Systems highlighted the growing interest in space-related careers, with the UK recording the third-highest number of Google searches for space-related jobs, such as ‘how to become an astronaut.’ While the sector comprises hundreds of different roles, from engineers to scientists, astronauts continue to capture the imagination of young people and drive interest in space exploration.
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Moving Forward: Balancing Innovation with Legacy
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As we move forward, the industry must continue to strike a balance between pushing the boundaries of new technology and maintaining existing, legacy structures. We have seen no decrease in the market engagement with our traditional RF offering—in fact, we have had several record-breaking months this year with analog products such as our frequency converters. The challenge lies in managing the pace of technological adoption while ensuring a cohesive transition for all players.
As part of our commitment to sustaining analog RF engineering capability within ETL Systems, the company recently acquired SpacePath Communications, a UK-based business with an enviable reputation for reliability and quality within the high-power amplifier market.
We are currently integrating their product range into our RF distribution line-up and we look forward to bringing the SpacePath portfolio to our global customer base.
We are also well underway with an R&D program that will bring Q- and V-band capabilities to our existing product offerings, ensuring that we keep up with the changes on the horizon of both the analog and digital ground segment landscapes.
By working together, investing in research and development, and educating the next generation, we can create a more efficient, scalable, and sustainable satellite communications ecosystem for the future.
Kevin Dunne
Author Kevin Dunne, who joined ETL Systems in 2023 as CEO, brings more than 20 years of experience in RF Systems for Satellite and Defence communications. Previously, he served as Vice President and Managing Director at API Technologies Corporation. His extensive leadership experience in technology companies positions him to drive ETL Systems’ growth and innovation.
www.etlsystems.com