TMYTEK and Comtech Forge Alliance for Next-Gen Satellite Connectivity

TAIPEI, March 20, 2026 – In a move set to redefine the boundaries of global communications, TMYTEK and Comtech Telecommunications Corp. today announced a landmark collaboration, unveiling a new generation of advanced satellite user terminals. The partnership, which began in 2025 under the Canada-Taiwan EUREKA Program, combines Taiwanese mmWave innovator TMYTEK’s antenna expertise with U.S.-based Comtech's leadership in satellite ground systems to tackle one of the industry's most complex challenges: ubiquitous, multi-orbit connectivity.

The joint announcement features two distinct but complementary solutions: a sophisticated Ku/Ka multi-orbit Electronically Steered Antenna (ESA) terminal and a highly efficient passive slotted-waveguide antenna terminal. Together, they promise to deliver scalable, resilient, and seamless satellite communications for a vast array of applications, from mission-critical defense operations to commercial broadband and the burgeoning Internet of Things (IoT) landscape.

A New Era of Multi-Orbit Mastery

The centerpiece of the collaboration is the software-defined, multi-orbit integrated terminal. This advanced system merges TMYTEK’s revolutionary ESA technology with Comtech’s versatile ELEVATE modem platform. The result is a single terminal capable of intelligently and seamlessly switching between satellite constellations in Geostationary Orbit (GEO), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), and Low Earth Orbit (LEO), as well as other non-terrestrial networks.

For end-users, this capability solves a persistent problem in satellite communications: the trade-off between latency, coverage, and capacity. GEO satellites offer broad, stable coverage but have higher latency, while LEO constellations provide high-speed, low-latency service but require terminals to constantly track fast-moving satellites. By creating a terminal that can dynamically leverage the best of all orbital layers, TMYTEK and Comtech are enabling a true “always-on” connectivity experience.

The intelligence behind this seamless switching is powered by Comtech's ELEVATE platform, a cloud-native, virtualized system. It employs a proprietary feature called Dynamic Return Access Modes (D-RAM), which allows the modem to select the most efficient waveform in real-time, optimizing performance and bandwidth usage across different satellite networks. This software-defined core makes the terminal not just powerful, but also future-proof, capable of adapting to new satellite systems and changing market demands through software updates rather than costly hardware replacements.

The Efficiency Breakthrough: Passive Antenna Technology

While the multi-orbit ESA terminal targets high-performance and mobility applications, the second offering—a passive slotted-waveguide antenna terminal—addresses a different but equally critical need: energy efficiency. This terminal is designed for fixed deployments, emergency response, and demanding environments where power is a scarce and valuable resource.

The press release states the passive antenna consumes “only 90% of the ESA required energy” while providing the same gain for an equivalent surface area. This translates to a notable 10% reduction in power consumption compared to its active counterparts. While perhaps not the 90% reduction some might misread, a consistent 10% efficiency gain is a significant engineering achievement in a field where every watt matters.

To put this in context, competing ESA terminals from major players like Kymeta or Hughes can consume anywhere from 130W to over 300W during typical operation. A 10% saving on a terminal deployed at a remote IoT site or a solar-powered critical infrastructure monitoring station translates directly into longer operational life, smaller power systems, and lower long-term costs. This makes the passive antenna an ideal solution for monitoring high-power electrical grids, securing critical infrastructure, and enabling resilient communications in disaster-stricken areas with limited energy.

The Strategic Alliance Behind the Technology

This technological leap is the product of a carefully crafted strategic partnership that leverages the distinct strengths of both companies. TMYTEK is a recognized leader in millimeter-wave (mmWave) and phased array antenna design, while Comtech possesses nearly six decades of experience in building robust satellite modems and ground infrastructure. Their collaboration, fostered by the Canada-Taiwan EUREKA Program—an international network designed to spur industry-led R&D—highlights a global trend towards cross-border innovation in high-tech sectors.

“Our partnership with TMYTEK started in 2025, within the Canada-Taiwan EUREKA Program,” said Daniel Gizinski, President of Comtech's Satellite & Space Communications Segment, in a statement. “This partnership has enabled us to bring Comtech's decades of differentiated expertise and industry leadership into state-of-the-art, complementary technology, for the benefit of our global customers.”

The synergy is clear: TMYTEK provides the advanced, agile “eyes and ears” of the terminal, while Comtech provides the intelligent “brain” that processes the signal and manages the network connection. This integrated approach allows them to compete effectively in the satellite ground segment, a market that industry analysts value at over $150 billion annually and is characterized by rapid technological evolution.

“The partnership between Comtech and TMYTEK represents a transformative leap in satellite communications,” added Ethan Lin, Co-founder and Vice President of TMYTEK. “By offering both multi-orbit and flat antenna terminal solutions, we provide customers with greater flexibility, scalability, and performance across diverse deployment scenarios—from ground to sky.”

Connecting the Unconnectable: Real-World Impact

Beyond the technical specifications and corporate strategy, the true significance of these new terminals lies in their potential impact on end-users. For government and defense clients, the multi-orbit ESA terminal offers resilient, high-throughput communications-on-the-move, ensuring that critical data links remain active even in contested environments. The ability to switch between commercial and military satellite bands on a single piece of hardware enhances operational flexibility and redundancy.

For commercial enterprises, the technology opens up new possibilities for connecting remote worksites, mobile vehicle fleets, and critical infrastructure with enterprise-grade reliability. The modular design and software-defined architecture promise to lower the total cost of ownership and simplify network management across a global footprint.

Ultimately, the collaboration between TMYTEK and Comtech is about bridging connectivity gaps. Whether it is providing reliable broadband to a rural community, enabling real-time data from a remote sensor network, or ensuring a first responder can communicate in a crisis, these next-generation terminals are engineered to deliver connectivity where it has historically been difficult, expensive, or impossible. By mastering the complexity of a multi-orbit satellite ecosystem, this partnership is paving the way for a more connected and resilient world.