Is a new chip from Japan a breakthrough in satellite communications?

The world of satellite communications has a new hero: a small but very powerful chip developed by Japanese scientists from the Tokyo Institute of Technology. This chip can significantly improve the performance of small satellites, such as Starlink, and make them even more efficient. This is reported by the Tech Xplore portal.

Who designed this chip?

The new chip was developed under the leadership of Associate Professor Atsushi Shirane of the Tokyo Institute of Technology, as part of research conducted in collaboration with Axelspace, a Japanese company specializing in small satellites. The results were presented at the IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC 2025), held in San Francisco in February 2025. The Japanese scientists have solved one of the biggest problems of small satellites, which is the processing of polarized signals.

What is this chip and why is it important?

Small satellites, weighing between 10 and 100 kg, typically use either right-handed circular polarization (RHCP) or left-handed circular polarization (LHCP). Previously, they could only handle one type of polarization, which limited their capabilities. Now, thanks to a new chip, they can handle both types of polarization simultaneously, doubling their bandwidth.

How does it work?

The chip uses a special circuit that allows the signal to be split into two components with different phases, which allows the direction of rotation of the signal's electric field to be determined. This allows the chip to effectively process both RHCP and LHCP signals.

What advantages does this provide?

• Increased throughput: The ability to process two types of polarization simultaneously allows for an increase in the number of signals processed.
• Energy efficiency : the chip is manufactured using CMOS technology, which ensures low power consumption.
• Compatibility with existing systems : The chip operates in the Ka-band frequency range, which is used by modern satellite networks such as Starlink .

How could this affect Starlink?

It will allow for the simultaneous processing of more signals, which will improve the quality and speed of connections for users, especially in the most remote areas.

The role of the chip in the future of satellite communications

The new chip is not just a small component, but a major step forward in the development of satellite communications. It allows small satellites to work more efficiently, providing better communication for all users. Next, the developers plan to continue testing this technology and integrating it into real systems, which will help provide high-speed connections in the most inaccessible corners of the planet.