EnSilica Secures £10.38 Million Funding from UK Space Agency for Satellite Broadband Chip Development

Highlights:

• £10.38 Million Funding: The UK Space Agency will provide £10.38 million to EnSilica under the C-LEO programme for the development of semiconductor chips for satellite broadband user terminals.
• Project Focus: The funding will support the creation of chips for highly integrated satellite terminals, capable of connecting with multiple satellite constellations like OneWeb and IRIS2.
• Market Growth Opportunity: The satellite user terminal market is projected to reach US$16.5 billion by 2031, with each terminal requiring hundreds of specialized chips.

EnSilica (LSE:ENSI), a leading chip maker specializing in mixed signal ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), has announced that it has been awarded £10.38 million in funding from the UK Space Agency. The funding is part of the UK Space Agency's Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit (C-LEO) programme and will support EnSilica’s development project over the next three years.

EnSilica’s Development Project

EnSilica’s £10.38 million award from the UK Space Agency comes as part of the C-LEO programme, which is designed to bolster the UK’s position in the global low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite market. The project will focus on developing a family of semiconductor chips that will support the next generation of satellite broadband user terminals. These terminals will be capable of connecting to a variety of satellite constellations, including OneWeb and IRIS2, a planned European Union multi-orbit network. By leveraging advanced semiconductor technology, the project aims to provide a secure and resilient source of chips that will be independent of specific satellite service operators.

The market potential for satellite user terminals is rapidly expanding, driven by the success of initiatives like SpaceX’s Starlink. It is projected to reach a value of US$16.5 billion by 2031. Each user terminal requires hundreds of specialized chips for the development of electronically steerable antennas.

Funding and Strategic Support

The £10.38 million in funding, awarded after a competitive application process, will cover up to half of the overall project costs, with payments being made against specific milestones throughout the three-year duration. This funding will enable EnSilica to secure key partners and customers, ensuring the commercial success and exploitation of the project.

The UK Space Agency's C-LEO programme, which was launched last year, is aimed at ensuring the UK's competitiveness in the rapidly evolving global LEO satellite market. With a total funding pool of up to £160 million available over the next four years, the programme supports the development of advanced satellite technology, including smarter satellites, AI-driven data delivery, and enhanced inter-satellite connections.