Electronically Steerable Flat-Panel Satellite Terminal

Kymeta Corporation (Redmond, WA) develops electronically steerable flat-panel satellite communication terminals that enable mobile broadband connectivity without the mechanical dish antennas traditionally required for satellite internet. Kymeta’s technology uses liquid crystal meta-surface waveguide technology developed from Bill Gates-backed research — thin, flat panels that electronically steer their beam to track geostationary and MEO satellites without any motors, gimbals, or moving parts.

The flagship u8 terminal is a flat-panel roughly the size of a large pizza box that can be roof-mounted on a vehicle, vessel, or aircraft and steered electronically to maintain lock on any MEO or GEO satellite — including the OneWeb and SES O3b mPOWER MEO constellations. The flat form factor enables installation in locations where a dish antenna is impractical: military vehicles in urban environments, yachts requiring low aerodynamic profile, aircraft with limited fuselage mounting real estate, and fixed installations requiring minimal visual impact.

Kymeta has partnered with Inmarsat (now VSAT Networks/Viasat), SES, and OneWeb to provide connectivity services and has sold terminals into military/government, maritime, and specialty vehicle markets. The company represents a critical enabling technology for the emerging mobile satellite broadband market — making satellite internet practical for users who could not previously carry a mechanical dish.