Sofant reveals world-first Beamforming breakthrough

Above: Sofant Technologies is headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland. 
Image by Darren Frazer Photography / copyright Shutterstock

This world-first accomplishment, revealed at the recent Tech Tour Defence conference in Paris, has been achieved after overcoming a series of complex technical challenges, marking a pivotal moment in the advancement of wireless technology.

Beamforming is essential for the high-frequency millimetre-wave (mmWave) bands used across a wide range of applications including SatCom 5G and future 6G networks. RF MEMS delivers the high-performance phase shifters and switches needed to steer these signals power efficiently.

In satellite communications, where every gram of weight and milliwatt of power is critical, RF MEMS components significantly reduce the size, weight and power (SWaP) of communication systems used in aerospace applications.

In defence and radar, agile and powerful beamforming is critical for advanced radar and electronic warfare systems used in the military.

With the rest of Sofant’s technology stack now ready to scale, the company is poised to launch commercial sales of its innovative solution in the second half of 2026.

David Wither, CEO of Sofant Technologies, said: "This is a defining moment for both Sofant and the wireless industry. Delivering the world’s first RF MEMS beamforming IC demonstrates our team’s technical leadership and relentless determination in tackling challenges others thought impossible. 

“In parallel, our operations team has worked tirelessly to develop a manufacturing system that ensures we can scale up quickly and deliver this transformative technology to the market in high volume at low cost."

Dr Ilian Iliev, CEO of EMV Capital, added: “Sofant’s team has demonstrated outstanding technical innovation in developing a world-first RF MEMS beamforming solution. Their ability to combine engineering excellence with a clear path to scalable, cost-efficient production is a testament to the strength of their vision and execution. We are proud to be supporting Sofant as it brings this transformative technology to global markets.”

Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sofant Technologies is at the forefront of wireless innovation. Supported by leading investors including Scottish Enterprise, EMV Capital, Kelvin Capital, Caladan Capital, NSSIF, the UK Space Agency and the European Space Agency, Sofant’s patented RF MEMS technology delivers up to 70% reduction in power consumption, offering the market the lowest size, weight and cost solutions available.