SatixFy, the satellite communication technology company,
has gone from strength to strength since setting up UK
operations in August 2016, after being established in Hong
Kong, with its first design centre in Israel, in 2012.
With the support of the UK Space Agency, Innovate UK and
the Department for International Trade, the company now has
77 full-time employees in Farnborough and Manchester – out
of 150 worldwide – and attracted a further $20 million of
investment.
Having developed its innovative technology, SatixFy UK is
now selling its products. Just 18 months after being
established, the company’s customers already include some
of the world’s largest satellite operators and satellite
manufacturers.
The company received funding to develop revolutionary flat
antennas which could have applications in the Internet of
Things market, connecting vehicles to the internet, as well
as for user terminals for the upcoming Low Earth orbiting
(LEO) constellations. The company’s new development centre
in Manchester designs space-hardened silicon chips for
satellite payloads with a first chip for
on-board-processing.
, Minister for
Investment at the Department for International Trade, the
UK government’s international economic department, said:
“We are delighted with the success that SatixFy have
enjoyed since opening their UK operations. They are a
ringing endorsement for the compelling offer the UK
presents to innovative, ambitious companies seeking to grow
and compete successfully in the booming global space
market.”
Dr Graham Turnock, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency,
said:
“SatixFy UK is an excellent example of how working together
we can bring investment to the UK, attract new engineers to
work in the space sector and support innovative space
companies to become really successful here, whilst driving
significant export opportunity.
“The UK Government’s Industrial Strategy sets out a clear
vision for the UK to become the world’s most innovative
nation and we are working with industry to capture 10% of
the global space market by 2030.”
SatixFy UK has received a commitment for funding of more
than €30 million, for several programmes, from the European
Space Agency’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications
Satellites (ARTES) programme, which transforms research
into successful commercial projects. The UK is the largest
funder of the programme which is designed to support
industry by funding the demonstration of advanced
technologies, systems, services and applications in a
representative space environment.
Craig Brown, Innovation Lead for Space at Innovate UK and
the UK’s Delegate to the ESA ARTES Satcom programme, said:
“SatixFy’s story is an excellent example of how Innovate
UK, the UK Space Agency and the Department for
International Trade use the support tools at our disposal
to attract companies to set up and grow in the UK. The UK
offer goes well beyond our ability to co-invest in
projects; we work hard to ensure that the whole value chain
is well connected, is collaborating and is co-innovating.
“I look forward to seeing the fruits of SatixFy’s early
success and would also encourage any other technology
companies wishing to establish and grow in the UK to get in
touch.”
SatixFy UK is investing €15 million in its UK centres and
other UK contractors including Cadence and TVS.
Likewise, SatixFy UK has formed a new joint venture with
Singapore Technologies Engineering (STE), which will see
STE invest $20 million to develop and sell commercial Aero
antennas for the In-Flight Connectivity (IFC) market while
ownership of the technology remains in the UK.
Yoel Gat, CEO of the SatixFy Group said:
“Becoming an integral part of the UK space industry, with
the support of the UK authorities, has been one of the most
successful business decisions SatixFy has taken. The level
of support and goodwill we have received from the UK
Government was very important for us. Within a short period
of 18 months, we have been able to establish two successful
design centres and design our first chips.
“Within two years from our starting point, we will already
be selling our products. We plan to continue to grow our UK
infrastructure and use it as a base for our future
electronically steered antennas and satellite payloads
product lines.”
