AccelerComm underpins Eclipse Space’s 5G physical layer for satellite constellations

AccelerComm has announced the successful completion of two engineering engagements with Eclipse Space, a satellite infrastructure company founded by veterans of the Starlink programme.

Across the two successive engagements, AccelerComm supported Eclipse in defining the physical-layer architecture for its next-generation spacecraft, spanning both its direct-to-device and broadband payload families. The work contributes to Eclipse’s plans to deliver customer-owned, turnkey satellite constellations to nations and enterprises seeking greater control over their communications infrastructure.

Enhanced connectivity

AccelerComm contributed to Eclipse’s next-generation digital beamformer concept, optimised to provide both direct-to-device and broadband connectivity from a single, scalable platform. This approach will allow Eclipse to address multiple connectivity requirements while maintaining a common underlying spacecraft architecture.

AccelerComm’s flight-proven 5G non-terrestrial network (NTN) Layer 1 physical-layer IP, including advanced error correction and waveform optimisation, also underpins Eclipse’s modem architecture. Together with the higher-layer stack provided by AccelerComm’s partners, the technology will support standards-aligned Narrowband NTN (NB-NTN) and 5G New Radio NTN (NR-NTN) services.

Direct-to-device satellite connectivity presents an especially demanding physical-layer challenge because signals travel hundreds of kilometres between satellites and ordinary mobile devices with limited antenna size and transmission power. Efficient beamforming, signal processing and error correction are therefore essential to maintaining reliable connections while controlling spacecraft power consumption and cost.

Reducing technical risk

The collaboration is designed to keep Eclipse’s architecture aligned with 3GPP standards, accelerate time-tomarket and support a low per-satellite cost. By resolving critical physical-layer decisions early in the development process, the engagements have also helped reduce technical risk ahead of Eclipse’s planned demonstration mission in 2027.

Eclipse Space is developing turnkey constellation infrastructure encompassing satellites, payloads, ground systems, launch and operations. Its model is intended to enable governments and enterprises to own and operate satellite networks tailored to their coverage, capacity, security and sovereignty requirements.

David Helfgott (above), CEO of AccelerComm said: “Direct-to-device is one of the toughest engineering challenges in satellite communications and success ultimately depends on what happens at the physical layer.

“Applying our flight-proven 5G NTN technology to Eclipse’s beamformer and modem architecture is exactly where our expertise can make the greatest difference. These engagements demonstrate that we can help customers solve critical architectural questions early, combining deep engineering support with an IP portfolio already proven in orbit.”

Derek Huerta, CEO and co-founder of Eclipse Space said: “Our model depends on making the hardest engineering decisions correctly, early and efficiently. AccelerComm’s depth of expertise in the 5G NTN physical layer helped sharpen our payload specifications and gave us greater confidence in the path toward our 2027 demonstrator and future operational constellations.”

The engagements extend AccelerComm’s NTN expertise to a new class of customer-owned constellation infrastructure. AccelerComm and Eclipse anticipate continued collaboration as Eclipse progresses toward its demonstration mission and scales its platform for operational deployments.