Feature: Wireless Technology
The potential and challenges of adopting the Q/V-band for communications
By Tudor Williams, Chief Technology Officer, Filtronic O
our world revolves around communication, expecting methods to be instant and reliable, regardless of the location. For this we
need RF technologies. We are increasingly seeing a new
player entering the sector, and that is the Q/V band, consisting of the Q-band and the V-band, covering frequencies from 47 to 52GHz. This combined band promises to more than double the bandwidth of current satellite systems, and faster, more-reliable communication for non-terrestrial and Earth-based networks alike. However, there are some technical challenges to address first, before this band’s full adoption can take place.
Ka vs Q/V The Ka-band, covering the spectrum between 26.5GHz and 40GHz, has been enormously important in satellite communications, but the Q and V bands
are now in the pipeline to be harnessed for next-generation networks. Together they offer a much wider spectrum, which means the new band can deliver faster data speeds to more users, with more efficient communication between satellites and ground stations. This makes it particularly attractive for industries like satellite communications and Earth observation, where there is growing need for faster, more reliable data transfer. However, switching to the Q/V band
isn’t a simple task. There are some technical hurdles to surmount first, one of them being the use of Travelling Wave Tube Amplifiers (TWTAs), which to date have been the well-established, go-to solution. Although these devices provide high power amplification, they are expensive, complex to manufacture and have limited lifetime.
Solid-state technology Solid State Power Amplifiers, or SSPAs, are a good alternative to TWTAs,
08 July/August 2025
www.electronicsworld.co.uk
particularly those SSPAs that are built with Gallium Nitride (GaN). This type offer similar performance to TWTAs but are smaller, simpler to make, more cost-effective and have a longer lifetime, often extending beyond 15 years. In satellite communications, size,
weight and power of components are always sensitive parameters, and especially for satellites used in military or deep-space missions, there are strict volume and weight limits. Overall, the lower costs and simpler and faster production make SSPAs highly suitable for cheaper and more scaleable satellite systems. This makes solid- state amplifiers a powerful solution, which is exactly what’s needed for high-frequency systems like those for the Q/V band. And, as semiconductor nodes continue to shrink — from 0.15 microns to even smaller process nodes of under 100nm — these devices will only become better performing and cheaper.
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