April 23, 2013
REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)
Kymeta (www.kymetacorp.com), the company that designs and commercializes innovative software-enabled metamaterials-based electronic beamforming antennas for satellite communications, today announced that it successfully closed a link with a Ka-band DTH satellite transporting high definition TV signals. Kymeta believes that this is the first time a metamaterials-based antenna has established a connection with a Ka-band satellite.
The connection used an aperture size of 15 by 17 inches and was about one centimeter thick. The antenna was powered by a USB cable using less than three watts of power to drive the electronic beamforming antenna.
"This milestone is significant because it proves that our technology works in the real world environment outside of a laboratory, and that it holds promise of becoming a viable solution for satellite communications, " said Bob McCambridge, Kymeta's chief operating officer.
"Euroconsult has been following Kymeta's developments and our research indicates that its new antenna could offer market-changing opportunities for multiple verticals in the satellite sector, particularly for mobile applications," said Susan Irwin, president of Euroconsult's U.S. office. "The fact that they have now successfully demonstrated Ka-band high definition video reception from a DTH satellite is a strong indication of their potential in this fast-moving and innovative industry."
The technology behind Kymeta's metamaterials antenna was developed by Dr. Nathan Kundtz, co-founder and chief technology officer of Kymeta and an expert in the field of metamaterials, who worked on the use of advanced structured materials in beamforming applications. His research resulted in the PCB-like surface that allows for an antenna that is flat, light and can be mass-produced using existing manufacturing techniques available to the industry for low-cost production.
"Closing a link with a satellite is a difficult challenge with any new technology. You need a high performing antenna to get the job done. The efficiency has to be high. The polarization fidelity has to be good. At the end of the day it just has to work; there's nowhere to hide," said Kundtz. "I am proud of our team of designers and engineers, and am excited to see our company moving forward at full throttle."
Kymeta recently announced a development partnership with Inmarsat and is talking with partners across numerous industries about potential applications of its technology, according to CEO Vern Fotheringham.
"The Kymeta team is excited to reach this significant technology milestone. We stand ready to partner with the satellite industry to maximize the revolutionary potential of Kymeta's technology," said Fotheringham.
About Kymeta Corporation
Kymeta Corporation was formed to commercialize a new, innovative metamaterials-based antenna for satellite communication. The technology was developed at Intellectual Ventures where the enormous potential for metamaterials technology was realized early on, and which led to the formation of Kymeta as an independent company in August 2012. In February 2013, Kymeta was named by MIT Technology Review as one of 2013's 50 Disruptive Companies in the field of Computing and Communications as part of its annual list of the world's most innovative technology companies. Kymeta Corporation is based in Redmond, Washington and operates on a worldwide basis. For more information, please visit www.kymetacorp.com.
CONTACT: Kymeta Corporation
Håkan Olsson, +1 425-896-3711
Senior Director of Marketing
PR@kymetacorp.com
SOURCE: Kymeta Corporation
Copyright Business Wire 2013
Additional News Bites on Kymeta:
04/25/2013 | Aviation Week
Kymeta's New Metamaterials Antenna
04/25/2013 | Aviation Week
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