Mathieu Billod, Head of SATCOM User Terminals and Manufacturing
SWISSto12’s new HummingLink Satcom-on-the-Pause (SOTP) product is a new type of portable, high-performing terminal for GEO connectivity.
In the feature film, The Martian, stranded astronaut Mark Watney relies on a makeshift antenna (and some potatoes) to survive, displaying ingenuity and innovation in extreme conditions. Watney’s story may be a fictional one, but it’s a scenario that underscores the real-world necessity of robust, rapid-deployment satellite connectivity.
Today, industries ranging from defense to disaster recovery to broadcasting, all face a similar challenge: the need for high-performance communications in environments where every second counts.
SWISSto12’s HummingLink-SOTP (Satcom-on-the-Pause) answers this call, merging advanced additive manufacturing with cutting-edge RF engineering to deliver a terminal that redefines portability, performance, and reliability in satellite communications (SATCOM), enabling dependable connectivity on the pause, whatever the conditions.
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Addressing the modern connectivity gap
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As the demand for real-time connectivity grows, even in the most remote and hard-to-reach regions, satellite communications play an increasingly vital role in supporting mobile operations, emergency response efforts, and critical missions conducted far from traditional infrastructure.
Traditional SATCOM terminals, however, remain hamstrung by bulkiness, time-consuming deployment, and performance trade-offs, as well as significant costs. Field operators often face a dilemma: sacrifice mobility for capability or accept subpar connectivity for portability.
Legacy systems used in GEO connectivity, such as parabolic dish antennas, require the time-consuming assembly of multiple components or “petals,” often taking 30-60 minutes or more to deploy. This becomes critical in scenarios such as disaster zones or government operations, where delays can cost lives, but it is also damaging for industries such as broadcasting, energy, and telecommunications.
SWISSto12, a Swiss pioneer in satellite and RF technology, addresses this gap with the HummingLink-SOTP device, a terminal engineered to eliminate compromises between portability and performance.
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A leap forward in SOTP technology
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The HummingLink-SOTP is engineered for Satcom-on-the-Pause (SOTP) applications, where rapid deployment and high performance while stationary are non-negotiable. Its sub-50 cm form factor and 6.5-8 kg weight (depending on configurations) allow for the device to be transportable inside a backpack, with deployment on a tripod achievable in under five minutes. Initially launched in Ka-band, the terminal will soon expand to X-band and Ku-band variants, catering to diverse dual-use mission requirements.
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Key benefits include:
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Uncompromised performance: By optimizing waveguide geometries through additive manufacturing, signal loss is minimized, enabling high throughput sufficient for real-time HD video, telemedicine, or encrypted communications. This performance rivals larger terminals while maintaining a footprint small enough for single-person transport.
Modularity: The terminal’s auto-pointing system integrates GNSS and manual input capabilities, guiding users through azimuth and elevation adjustments via an intuitive interface. For non-technical operators, this reduces setup complexity to plug-and-play simplicity. The modem-agnostic architecture allows integration with third-party modems and allows for easy replacement of different battery types within the terminal.
Adaptability: SWISSto12’s additive manufacturing process enables zero-cost performance customization across different frequency bands (X, Ku, Ka) and chassis materials. For example, users in the defense industry prioritize durability and can opt for aluminum chassis, while media teams favor lightweight polyurethane. This adaptability extends to niche applications: terminals can be tuned to specific satellite transponders (e.g., 17.3–20.2 GHz for HTS systems) without redesign costs, ensuring compatibility with both legacy and next-gen GEO satellites. This adaptability is also highly appreciated by aerospace and defense contractors requiring X-band configurations, which are rapidly enabled without retooling expenses, a feat impossible with traditional manufacturing.
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The advantages of additive manufacturing
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At the core of the HummingLink-SOTP’s innovation lies SWISSto12’s proprietary 3D printing process. Unlike conventional dish antennas, which rely on bulky, loss-prone components, additive manufacturing enables intricate waveguide geometries that optimize signal integrity while reducing weight significantly compared to larger dishes.
The end-to-end production process, from design simulation in RF software to post-processing steps like chemical polishing and conductivity-enhancing treatments, ensures unmatched precision. SWISSto12’s vertical integration process allows for full control over every stage, from prototyping to testing, ensuring rigorous quality standards are met. This approach not only cuts production costs but also enables rapid product deployment cycles.
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Small size with premium performance
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Despite its compact size, the HummingLink-SOTP does not compromise on key performance metrics—such as signal loss reduction, resilient connectivity in adverse conditions, and cost efficiency—traditionally associated with larger systems.
The terminal’s design philosophy prioritizes intelligent engineering, with every component optimized to eliminate inefficiencies inherent in legacy systems.
Advanced Waveguide Arrays: These antennas minimize signal attenuation as well as enable extremely high aperture efficiency (above 90%), achieving gain levels comparable to 1-meter dish antennas but using an aperture that is about half the size. The design also shortens waveguide paths, reducing losses inherent in traditional systems. All this leads to high throughput in GEO communication links.
Rapid Link Establishment: Integrated GNSS and manual positioning systems enable connectivity in under five minutes. In environments without GPS, users input satellite coordinates via an intuitive interface with tactile buttons, adjusting azimuth and elevation with guided visual prompts.
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Real-world applications: from crisis to connectivity
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Disaster Response: During natural disasters, like earthquakes, fires or floods, terrestrial networks often collapse, leaving satellite communications as the sole lifeline for first responders. However, in remote or obstructed environments, traditional SATCOM systems can suffer from signal degradation due to atmospheric or topographical interference, highlighting the need for more robust and resilient communication architectures.
Rigorously tested to achieve high radiation efficiency, ensuring signal losses do not occur even in challenging environments, the HummingLink-SOTP is designed to accelerate rescue coordination and provide vital links of communication between responders and those affected in crisis zones.
Defense and Security: Military users require secure, high-throughput connectivity for real-time intelligence and operations. The terminal’s portability allows operators to deploy rapidly, from inside a backpack to standing on a tripod within 5 minutes. Furthermore, its resilience makes it ideal for scenarios where mobility is required in strenuous environments.
Media and Enterprise: Broadcasters covering events in remote locations can leverage the terminal’s compact design to transmit live updates within a matter of moments.
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Setting a new standard in portable satellite communications
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Much like The Martian’s protagonist and his technical ingenuity, SWISSto12 transforms advanced concepts into tangible solutions.
Leveraging the advantages of additive manufacturing and years of expertise in developing high-performing radio frequency and satellite products, SWISSto12’s HummingLink-SOTP sets a new performance and portability standard for satellite communications on the pause.
With a wide array of use cases and applications that are deployable at a moment’s notice, HummingLink-SOTP delivers a cost-competitive, high-performance, and portable solution for geostationary connectivity compared to legacy dish antennas. Whether restoring communications in disaster zones or enabling live broadcasts from deserts,
HummingLink-SOTP is empowering industries to operate beyond the limits of traditional infrastructure and bring satellite communications into a more connected and protected era.
HummingLink-SOTP is now available to order in Ka-band, with pre-release demos for X-band and Ku-band variants available, before full availability later in 2025.
www.swissto12.com
Mathieu Billod
Author Mathieu Billod, one of SWISSto12’s first employees, initially led the development of the company’s manufacturing technologies. He is now head of the Satcom User Terminal product line, collaborating with the team, partners, suppliers, and customers to ensure reliable satellite connectivity.