SIKLU COMMUNICATION LTD

Their core work

Siklu develops millimeter-wave (mmWave) and terahertz (THz) wireless communication hardware for high-capacity backhaul and fronthaul links in dense urban networks. They design and manufacture radio equipment that enables multi-gigabit wireless connectivity — a critical piece of 5G infrastructure where fiber is impractical or too costly. Their H2020 work focuses on integrating their radio hardware with software-defined networking, mobile edge computing, and photonic transport systems to deliver end-to-end 5G solutions. They also developed a Software Defined Radio chip for multi-frequency radio heads, validated through an SME Instrument grant.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Siklu's early H2020 involvement (2014–2017) centered on photonic infrastructure and THz communication for wireless backhaul and fronthaul — essentially the physical radio layer. From 2019 onward, their projects shifted decisively toward the software and orchestration layer: mobile edge computing, software-defined networking, virtualization, and NFV appear prominently. This reflects an industry-wide trend where hardware vendors must integrate with programmable, cloud-native 5G architectures rather than selling standalone radios.

Siklu is evolving from a pure radio hardware supplier toward a provider of software-integrated wireless infrastructure for 5G edge deployments — expect them to pursue Open RAN and private 5G network opportunities next.

How they like to work

Siklu operates primarily as a specialist partner (5 of 6 projects as participant), contributing their mmWave/THz hardware expertise to larger consortia. Their one coordination was an SME-1 feasibility project for their own product — typical for hardware SMEs who join consortia as technology providers rather than project leaders. With 42 unique partners across 13 countries, they maintain a broad European network, suggesting they are a sought-after specialist rather than a repeat-partner loyalist.

Siklu has collaborated with 42 unique partners across 13 countries, reflecting strong integration into the European 5G research ecosystem despite being an Israeli company. Their network spans the major EU telecom research hubs.

What sets them apart

Siklu is one of very few SMEs that manufacture production-ready mmWave radio equipment AND participate actively in EU 5G research consortia. This dual position — commercial product company plus research collaborator — means partners get access to real hardware, not just simulations or prototypes. For consortium builders, Siklu brings a credible path from research results to market deployment, which strengthens exploitation plans in proposals.

Highlights from their portfolio

• 5G-PHOS
  Largest single grant (EUR 568,925) — fiber-wireless integration for high-density 5G using photonic technologies, representing Siklu's most substantial EU research commitment.
• ThoR
  Focused specifically on terahertz end-to-end wireless systems for ultra-high data rates — directly aligned with Siklu's core hardware competency at the frontier of wireless frequencies.
• Siklu
  Their only coordinated project — an SME Instrument Phase 1 to validate their Software Defined Radio chip, showing direct product development ambition beyond consortium participation.