WideNorth's breakthrough satellite payload gains market traction, following ESA support
WideNorth AS, a major Norwegian player in signal processing and satellite communication, has reached a significant milestone with the successful commercialisation of its Payload Data Handling and Transmitter (PDHT) based on Software Defined Radio. Developed under the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) programme, this payload is now a powerful candidate for all those missions requiring both high downlink rates and high data storage capacity.
The ARTES Core Competitiveness programme, particularly its Competitiveness and Growth element within the Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications, is designed to foster innovation and commercially viable products in the European space telecommunications sector. It supports companies in developing cutting-edge technologies that can be rapidly brought to market. WideNorth’s PDHT project exemplifies this mission, demonstrating how ESA’s support can accelerate the path from research to a product ready for the commercial market.
The PDHT features a Ka-band 5Gbps downlink transmitter integrated with high-capacity solid-state data storage. This combination allows for rapid and reliable data transmission from LEO satellites, even under cloudy conditions where optical links may falter. Unlike other radio frequency transmitters that offer lower throughput, WideNorth’s solution achieves multi-Gbps downlinks while maintaining operational reliability in adverse weather. Equipped with radiation-tolerance measures and allowing graceful degradation by design, the PDHT targets five-year mission lifetimes. The off-the-shelf nature of the PDHT also reduces costs and simplifies integration for satellite operators.
The payload has already been selected for a number of missions, including one under the Norwegian National Space Programme. This early adoption underscores the growing demand for high-performance, cost-effective satellite communication solutions. WideNorth’s success highlights the strategic importance of public-private partnerships in advancing Europe’s space capabilities.
"This project showcases the power of collaboration between ESA and industry. WideNorth’s achievement is a testament to the innovation we aim to foster through ARTES," says Joan Fort Alsina, ESA Technical Officer and Telecommunication Product Engineer within ESA Connectivity and Secure Communications.
"The PDHT payload is a great example of how ESA’s ARTES Core Competitiveness programme helps European companies bring competitive products to market. It’s a win for both industry and the broader space ecosystem," said Domenico Mignolo, Head of the Technologies and Products Division at ESA Connectivity and Secure Communications.