Hanwha Systems Acquires UK Satellite Communication Antenna Business

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] Hanwha Systems is accelerating its entry into the global market by acquiring all business assets of a leading overseas satellite communication antenna technology company as a future new growth engine.

Hanwha Systems announced on the 8th that it has acquired the business and assets of Phasor Solutions Ltd., a UK-based satellite communication antenna technology venture company.

Phasor Solutions, established in the UK in 2005, is a company specializing in research and development of satellite communication antennas. It leads the electronically steerable antenna (ESA) system that enables high-speed communication on sea, land, and aircraft, and has focused on designing and developing semiconductor-based next-generation satellite communication antennas.

Phasor Solutions’ antennas, characterized by a flat design, boast high performance packed with cutting-edge technology. The company’s semiconductor chip design technology for antenna beam steering and antenna transmission/reception control, independently owned by Phasor Solutions, is also an industry-leading technology. Through this acquisition, Hanwha Systems will secure the original technology including Phasor Solutions’ expert personnel, technical data, intellectual property (IP), test equipment, and other tangible assets.

Hanwha Systems has been dedicated to discovering new businesses to drive the company’s future growth and has been reviewing investments in the satellite communication antenna business since last year. When Phasor Solutions faced financial difficulties and entered bankruptcy proceedings due to the impact of COVID-19, Hanwha Systems actively moved to acquire the company.

Hanwha Systems, a leading multifunction radar technology company in Korea, plans to enter the satellite communication antenna business sector, which has high connectivity with its existing communication and radar technologies. The company aims to secure core technology for low Earth orbit satellite antennas and strengthen its aerospace system capabilities.

Low Earth orbit satellite communication is a next-generation technology that provides internet services at 5G and LTE levels from satellites orbiting above the Earth. Companies such as Amazon and SpaceX in the United States are also actively entering the satellite internet business, which does not require base stations.

The satellite antenna technology owned by Phasor Solutions is a key device that realizes this “space internet.” By installing antennas on aircraft, ships, trains, and vehicles, it enables stable communication through transmission and reception with low Earth orbit satellites anywhere in the world, including seas, remote areas, and airspace where internet access is difficult.

In particular, it provides high-quality wireless internet services such as video streaming inside aircraft and can be linked with telematics (wireless internet service for vehicles) technology for autonomous vehicles, which is expected to lead to explosive demand growth in the future. Accordingly, the market size related to satellite communication antennas is also expected to continue growing, reaching 50 trillion KRW by 2026.

Hanwha Systems plans to continue discovering new businesses for sustainable growth and accelerate its entry into the global market. In July last year, it announced its entry into the air taxi market, and in February this year, it officially started joint development of the air taxi “Butterfly” through the opening ceremony of Overair, Inc. With this acquisition, Hanwha Systems will further expand its future business areas to include the global satellite communication business.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.