TERNWAVES demonstrated instant bi-directional Direct-to-Device (D2D) messaging services based on its Golden Modulation™ end-to-end technology operating over widely available Ku-band geostationary satellites.
On the terminal side, the service has been demonstrated with messages transmitted and received to/from space via a 3cm sphere antenna and various terminal transmit powers down to 1.9 milliwatts (2.8 dBm).
Additionally the possibility to further reduce antenna size down to a tiny 1cm patch antenna while still delivering the messaging services has also been demonstrated.
On the space segment side, the service has been operated using a single compact Golden Modulation™ gateway, installed at a ground station, and providing immediately large scale continent-level coverage without requiring any new satellites launches.
The service which enables simple reuse of standard geostationary satellites, leveraging existing Ku band satellite transponders for fast large scale deployment, has been successively demonstrated on two satellites from different operators.
Forward looking, the service can be enabled on a new satellite in a couple of hours via the installation of a single compact gateway in the satellite ground station hence providing immediate service in a new area anywhere in the world.
This demonstration has been performed in presence of representatives of : Eurepean Space Agency – ESA, Orange, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Agence nationale des fréquences (ANFR), Ministry of Defense (Army & Navy), Ministry of Economy (Direction Générale des Entreprises).
TERNWAVES team kindly thanks ESA for its support within the framework of the pilot demonstration for Civil Security from Space – Last mile and Early Warning use cases.
What this breakthrough D2D demonstration based on Golden Modulation™ connectivity technology means :
- Fast global deployment – Leverages existing GEO satellites already in orbit (no systematic need for 100+ LEO satellites). Sovereign GEO infrastructure can now offer real-time D2D services.
- Ku-band enabled – Uses Ku frequency bands available worldwide (~87% of active GEO satellites utilize Ku-band frequencies in some capacity as of 2025) while fulfilling ITU regulations.
- Cost-effective services – By reusing GEO satellites already in orbit and operating in widely available low-cost Ku-band, we can deliver competitive connectivity services pricing at global scale.
- Sustainable space strategy – Avoids adding to space debris by reusing orbital assets instead of deploying numerous massive new LEO constellations.
- Stealth-grade communications – Demonstrated signal was -29 dB below noise floor – ideal for government & defense applications.
- Ultra-compact hardware – With Golden Modulation™, even a 3 cm spherical antenna or 1 cm patch is enough to connect to GEO satellites in Ku band, while maintaining ultra-low power for maximum autonomy of the
devices. - Resilience beyond GNSS – Full connectivity even in GNSS-denied environments, overcoming a key limitation of current 5G NTN systems.
