From Ku/Ka to Q/V band: the future for LEO/MEO Broadband Constellations,
Presented by: Alberto Ginesi, Head of the Telecommunication Systems Section, ESA, The Netherlands.
The rapid growth of LEO/MEO broadband constellations has significantly transformed the global telecommunications sector, providing low-latency, high-capacity links to remote and previously underserved areas. Traditionally, these networks have relied primarily on the Ku- and Ka-band spectrum because it offers an effective compromise between coverage, resistance to propagation channel effects, and technological maturity. Yet, as capacity requirements surge due to the ever-increasing constellation initiatives, the constraints of these bands are becoming more evident, in particular when considering the inter-system interference issues. This speech examines the move toward higher frequency Q/V bands as a key enabler for the next generation of LEO broadband architectures. This shift introduces technical hurdles, most notably less mature payload and ground segment technologies, increased atmospheric attenuation, and other channel impairments including carrier frequency instabilities. The integration of Q/V bands with existing Ku/Ka infrastructure is therefore expected to be a key transitional strategy, allowing operators to balance reliability and capacity. From a system perspective, the move to higher frequencies also impacts payload design, antenna technology, and ground segment architecture. Electronically steerable antennas, high-power amplifiers, and advanced thermal management systems are essential components for efficient Q/V band operations. Early demonstration and early commercial initiatives are already underway, providing valuable insight into performance and operational feasibility.
Alberto Ginesi, was born in Parma, Italy, in November 1967. He received the Dr. Ing. (cum laude) and Ph.D degrees in electronic engineering from University of Pisa, Italy, in 1993 and 1998, respectively. In 1996-1997 he spent one year at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, performing research on digital transmissions for wireless applications. In 1997, he joined Nortel Networks and in 2000 Catena Networks, both in Ottawa, Canada, where he worked on Digital Subscriber Loop (DSL) technologies and contributed to the definition of the second-generation ADSL standards within the ITU-R standardization body. Since 2002 he joined ESA Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), Noordwijk, The Netherlands, where he is currently covering the position of the Head of the Telecommunication Systems & Techniques Section of the Technical and Quality Management Directorate and is responsible for the R&D of satellite telecommunication systems. His main research interests lie in the area of satellite systems architectures and technologies. He is the author of more than 70 technical publications, 15 international patents, he is a co-author of a book and he is an Adjunct Professor at University of Bologna (Italy).