GMV is developing a new radio frequency (RF) spectrum monitoring system capable of detecting interference and analyzing its source in the primary frequency bands currently used by communications satellites. The project is co-funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) through its ARTES program.

The initiative comes at a particularly significant moment for the space sector. The number of satellites in orbit has grown continuously in recent years, driven primarily by the deployment of large commercial constellations. While approximately 2,000 active satellites were in orbit in 2019, that figure has now surpassed 14,000, and projections indicate it will continue to rise rapidly over the next decade.

This growth is placing increasing pressure on the radio frequency spectrum, a finite and essential resource for satellite communications. In this context, the ability to identify interference, prevent incidents, and optimize frequency use is critical to ensuring the continuity and reliability of space-based services. “We are witnessing unprecedented growth in the number of satellites in orbit, and this is increasing the complexity of the space environment. As orbital congestion grows, so do radio-frequency interferences and the risk that they may affect critical communication services,” says María Antonia Ramos, Head of STM Policy and Business Development at GMV.

GMV develops a system for detecting interference in satellite communications | GeoConnexion