Phasor · Project

Flat Low-Profile Antenna Brings Fast Satellite Internet to Moving Vehicles and Ships

digitalPilotedTRL 7

Imagine you're on a ship or a bus and you want fast internet — like proper HD video streaming, not sluggish buffering. Today's satellite dishes are bulky mechanical things that physically swivel to track satellites, which makes them expensive, heavy, and a headache to maintain. Phasor built a flat, electronically steered antenna — think of it like swapping a clunky old TV aerial for a sleek tablet — that locks onto satellites digitally, with no moving parts. They proved it works on a moving vessel, receiving and transmitting real data at sea.

By the numbers

€1.185bn

Broadband Satellite Communications-on-the-Move market size

€0.39bn

Associated antenna market size

61%

Compound annual growth rate of mobile communications demand

81%

Global mobile data traffic growth in 2013

€134m

Predicted total revenues at 2.5% market share by 2020

€63m

Predicted cumulative EBITDA

781

Jobs predicted to be created

TRL6

Technology readiness level at project start

€1,516,545

EU contribution to the project

The business problem

What needed solving

Businesses operating mobile fleets — ships, buses, trains, aircraft — need reliable high-speed internet on the move. Current satellite dishes are bulky mechanical systems that are heavy, expensive to maintain, and difficult to integrate into vehicles. The cheaper flat alternatives waste expensive satellite bandwidth and fail in certain geographic areas at large skew angles.

The solution

What was built

Phasor built and demonstrated a flat, electronically steered phased array antenna for satellite broadband — with no moving parts. A key deliverable confirmed the system functional, receiving and transmitting data on a moving vessel. The project delivered 8 total deliverables across the development and validation program.

Audience

Who needs this

Commercial shipping and cruise line operators needing reliable crew and passenger connectivityBus, coach, and rail operators offering onboard passenger Wi-FiSatellite service providers looking for cost-effective user terminalsMilitary and government agencies needing mobile satellite communicationsOil and gas companies operating remote offshore platforms

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Maritime & Shipping

enterprise

Target: Commercial shipping operators and cruise lines

If you are a shipping company dealing with unreliable, expensive satellite connectivity for your fleet — this project developed a flat, electronically steered antenna that works on moving vessels, proven by a demo system receiving and transmitting data at sea. It eliminates bulky mechanical dishes, reduces maintenance, and targets the €1.185bn broadband satellite communications-on-the-move market. This could dramatically cut your crew welfare and operational communication costs.

Land Transport & Logistics

enterprise

Target: Bus, rail, and fleet operators offering passenger Wi-Fi

If you are a transport operator struggling to provide reliable onboard internet to passengers because mechanical satellite antennas are too bulky, heavy, and maintenance-intensive for your vehicles — Phasor developed a low-profile, digitally steered phased array antenna with no moving parts. It is designed for high-speed satellite communications on the move, addressing the vehicle integration challenges that current antennas pose. The antenna market alone is valued at €0.39bn and growing rapidly.

Telecommunications & Satellite Services

any

Target: Satellite service providers and mobile network operators

If you are a satellite service provider looking for an antenna that reduces the cost of bandwidth per Mbps — current low-cost antennas trade off hardware price against much more expensive satellite bandwidth consumption. Phasor built a cost-effective phased array antenna that maintains performance even at large skew angles, addressing coverage gaps in certain geographical areas. Starting at TRL6, the system was demonstrated in an operational environment on a moving vessel.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does this antenna actually cost compared to existing solutions?

The project does not disclose specific unit pricing. However, the core value proposition is being the first 'cost effective' electronically steered phased array — military phased arrays exist but are too expensive for commercial use. The EU contributed €1,516,545 to bring this from prototype to market readiness.

Can this scale to equip an entire fleet of vehicles or vessels?

The project was specifically designed for commercial scale-up. Phasor predicted achieving 2.5% of the €1.185bn satellite communications-on-the-move market by 2020, generating €134m in total revenues. The project's goal was to move from operational demonstration to full market readiness.

What is the IP and licensing situation?

Phasor Solutions Limited is the sole partner and likely holds all IP from this project. As an SME-2 funded project with 100% industry consortium, the technology was developed for direct commercial exploitation. Licensing terms would need to be discussed directly with Phasor Solutions.

How proven is this technology — is it lab-tested or real-world validated?

The system started at TRL6 (demonstrated in relevant environment) and the project aimed to reach operational demonstration. A key deliverable confirms the system was functional, receiving and transmitting data on a moving vessel — which is real-world validation at sea.

What performance advantage does this have over existing flat antennas?

Based on the project objective, existing low-cost antennas sacrifice performance for price, requiring more expensive satellite bandwidth per Mbps. They also fail at large skew angles, limiting geographic coverage. Phasor's digital phased array maintains performance across angles without the bandwidth cost penalty.

How does this integrate with existing satellite networks?

The system is designed for broadband satellite communications on the move, meaning it works with existing satellite infrastructure. The demo deliverable confirmed the system receiving and transmitting data operationally. Based on available project data, specific satellite network compatibility details are not disclosed.

What regulatory approvals are needed?

Based on available project data, specific regulatory certifications are not detailed. Satellite communication equipment typically requires type approval for maritime (IMO/ITU standards) and land mobile use. The project's operational vessel demo suggests progress toward meeting relevant maritime communication standards.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a single-company project: Phasor Solutions Limited, a UK-based SME that received the full €1,516,545 under the SME Instrument Phase 2 (SME-2). The 100% industry, 100% SME consortium means this was a commercially driven venture with no academic partners — the technology was being pushed directly toward market by the company that would sell it. There are no university or research institute partners, which signals this was past the basic research stage and firmly in product development territory. For a potential business partner or customer, this means you would be dealing directly with the technology developer and manufacturer, simplifying any commercial discussion.

How to reach the team

Phasor Solutions Limited (UK) — contact details can be found via the project website or CORDIS portal

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Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

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