Skip to main content

Kymeta tests antenna for satellite-based internet connectivity to support autonomous driving

Global connectivity specialist Kymeta has successfully connected its 20 cm mTenna satellite antenna subsystem module (ASM) for the consumer connected car industry to the Intelsat satellite constellation. This test continues Kymeta's progress toward bringing high throughput, secure mobile connectivity to the automotive industry and follows the partnership announced with Toyota Motor Corporation in 2016. The test showcased that Kymeta mTenna technology for consumer vehicles could successfully connect to In
February 24, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
Global connectivity specialist Kymeta has successfully connected its 20 cm mTenna satellite antenna subsystem module (ASM) for the consumer connected car industry to the Intelsat satellite constellation. This test continues Kymeta's progress toward bringing high throughput, secure mobile connectivity to the automotive industry and follows the partnership announced with Toyota Motor Corporation in 2016.

The test showcased that Kymeta mTenna technology for consumer vehicles could successfully connect to Intelsat's Epic satellite network. The test also demonstrated that Kymeta mTenna technology can transmit and receive data with a single aperture, connect to the internet and access YouTube videos and conduct a Skype call, all within its first attempt.

Currently, the only way to take advantage of high throughput satellites (HTS) is with a large, traditional satellite dish with moving parts. The Kymeta satellite solution aims to eliminate the need for a gimballed dish and provide terabyte level capacity to cars allowing broadband level connectivity even in areas that have no terrestrial coverage.

The test is the first step in making a connected car it’s most secure and connected at a global scale. This successful testing was conducted with Intelsat, the world's leading provider of satellite services, which has a partnership agreement with Kymeta to enable satellite connectivity for the auto industry.

Related Content

  • ITS America annual meeting focuses on smart transportation
    January 25, 2012
    ITS America's next Annual Meeting, in Fort Washington in May 2012, is being planned at a turning point for US transportation and the nation's economy. We asked event organising committee chair Connie Sorrell a few pertinent questions on why attending Fort Washington will be essential for all transportation professionals
  • The downside of driverless vehicles
    October 27, 2016
    Driverless cars will have a detrimental effect on congestion and security while the road safety benefits can be achieved sooner and cheaper using ADAS, argues Colin Sowman. Many Governments are consulting about the introduction of driverless vehicles and even running trials. As 70% or 80% of crashes are caused by human error, the promise of a crash-free future of driverless, self-driving or autonomous vehicles (call them what you will) is alluring, as are the claims of reduced congestion and lower emissions
  • Researchers devise snow ploughing algorithm
    September 16, 2014
    Canadian researchers Olivier Quirion-Blais, Martin Trépanier and André Langevin have developed an algorithm to determine the most efficient routes for snow ploughs and gritters. Snow plough routing has always been something of a ‘black art’: to direct a fleet of show plough to clear priority roads without having the same road cleared several times while others are left untreated. Increasingly, GPS is being used to track the routes the clearing vehicles have taken but until now it has not been possible to ta
  • Greenowl brings bespoke traveller information one step closer
    June 4, 2015
    Greenowl’s voice-only congestion warning smartphone app alerts drivers to problems ahead and could be the way ahead for traffic information. If there is one point Matt Man, CEO of Canadian company Greenowl, wants to make clear from the start, it is that his company’s app is not a navigation system. He says: “Our system does not direct drivers to their destination because we mainly focus on commuters who know how to get to where they are going and only need information about any delays and incidents ahead of