Satellite Communications FPGAs

Q: What processing functions can FPGAs support in satellite payloads and ground stations?

FPGAs support signal processing, beamforming and forward error correction for satellite payloads and ground infrastructure. Programmable logic combines high-throughput data handling with adaptable processing paths, allowing the implementation to be matched to the satellite waveform, antenna architecture and the selected payload or ground-segment workload.

Q: Why reuse 5G Open RAN building blocks for NTN and direct-to-device development?

Reusing mature 5G Open RAN building blocks provides a common starting point for satellite processing and integration. These resources work alongside satellite-specific waveforms and acceleration, helping engineers explore NTN and direct-to-device architectures while tailoring the implemented functions to their payload and ground-system requirements.

Q: How can Direct RF FPGA resources support satellite signal-processing designs?

Direct RF resources combine high-speed data conversion with programmable FPGA fabric. The Agilex 9 Direct RF platform provides an option for evaluating payload beamforming and ground-station processing, with converter capability, programmable resources and the surrounding RF architecture matched to the selected satellite application. Explore Direct RF FPGA satellite processing resources

Q: What must be considered when implementing dense satellite phased-array beamforming?

Dense phased-array beamforming must fit the antenna count, processing workload, power and SWaP constraints of the satellite system. Agilex FPGA resources and partner RF transceivers provide an architecture to evaluate, with the complete radio implementation assessed rather than assuming a device alone establishes the system’s operating budget

Q: What role does LDPC forward error correction play in a satellite-link design?

LDPC forward error correction provides a coding building block for satellite-link processing. The listed 5G LDPC resource offers a starting point for IP reuse, with its coding, throughput and power characteristics checked against the selected satellite waveform and link requirements rather than assumed to fit every system. Explore LDPC FPGA coding resources for satellite-link evaluation

Wireless

FPGAs bring 5G Open RAN signal processing to satellite payloads and ground stations.

5G Building Blocks for NTN

Satellite communications are entering a new era of scale, software-defined flexibility, and convergence with terrestrial 5G. Altera's FPGA platforms bring high-throughput signal processing and deterministic low-latency pipelines to next-generation payloads.

By leveraging mature 5G Open RAN building blocks alongside satellite-specific waveforms and acceleration, Altera helps operators reduce time-to-orbit, simplify multi-vendor integration, and unlock differentiated capabilities for NTN and direct-to-device architectures.

Satellite payload and ground station beamforming architecture diagram

The Challenges, and Why FPGA

The Challenge

Reducing Time-to-Orbit

Satellite programs need to shorten development cycles for payload processing.

Why FPGA

Reuse of Validated 5G IP

Reused Open RAN signal processing IP shortens NTN development cycles.

The Challenge

Dense Beamforming in Tight SWaP

High antenna-count arrays need dense beamforming within tight power and SWaP.

Why FPGA

Agilex Beamforming Architecture

Agilex FPGAs and partner transceivers deliver dense beamforming within SWaP limits.

The Challenge

Multi-Vendor Integration

Ground and payload systems must integrate across multiple vendors' hardware.

Why FPGA

Common 5G/NTN Toolflow

A common toolflow and IP baseline scale across LEO constellations and ground segments.

Why Altera

Reused 5G Open RAN IP

Validated 5G signal processing IP shortens NTN development and de-risks integration.

Dense Phased Array Beamforming

Beamforming reference architecture scales to high antenna-count satellite arrays.

Production-Grade LDPC FEC

High-throughput, power-efficient forward error correction tuned for satellite links.

Ground Station Reference Design

A proven 1T1R parabolic array ground station design extends 5G radio IP.

Get Started

Agilex® 9 FPGA and SoC FPGA

FPGA
SOC FPGA

Direct RF-Series SoC FPGAs integrate industry-leading wideband and medium-band data converters with 58 Gbps transceivers, built for size, weight, and power-constrained systems.