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Sam Benzacar, of Anatech Electronics, an RF and microwave filter company, has
published his
February 2025 newsletter that, along with timely news items,
features his short op-ed entitled "The Rise of Non-Terrestrial Networks," which
discusses the advantages and potential stumbling blocks associated with a
space-based communications system which handle voice, text, and data. The global
market could hit $60B/year. Starlink's Direct-to-Cell (DTC) two-way network only
supports texting at this point due to low data rates and round-trip signal
latency issues. The success with which cellphones manage to communicate in both
directions in the current cellular system is nearly miraculous, given the small
size, non-ideal form factor, and hostile environments the antennas are subjected
to. They manage to make connections in back pockets, briefcases, with busses,
cars, trains, and airplanes, even next to human heads so filled with metallic
piercing hardware that the radiation pattern is utterly confused. If you think
the landscape has been seriously "uglied" by cell towers everywhere you look,
wait until low earth orbit (LEO) space is so utterly populated with satellites
that the night is lit with what looks like a laser light show of tiny dots of
reflected sunlight crisscrossing from horizon to horizon.
A Word from Sam Benzacar - The Rise of Non-Terrestrial Networks
 By Sam Benzacar
If you thought 5G was a big deal, non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) would be an
even bigger one and could reduce dependence on terrestrial base stations while
also replacing millions of small cells required for 5G's high-frequency
operations. How big a deal? Once all the pieces are in place to make NTNs
commercially viable for voice, text, and data, analysts predict that the global
market could reach $60 billion a year.
Early adoption will focus on emergency messaging and rural broadband
expansion through 2026. Between 2027 and 2030, hybrid integration will introduce
expanded voice and data services, automatic terrestrial-to-satellite switching,
and increased affordability. By 2030–2035, satellite-to-cell services may become
mainstream, with some nations prioritizing satellite connectivity over
traditional infrastructure. Beyond 2035, improved latency and cost reductions
could lead to full NTN integration, reducing reliance on terrestrial cell
towers.
 Despite their advantages, NTNs face challenges, including bandwidth
constraints, higher latency, significant infrastructure costs, and regulatory
hurdles in spectrum allocation. However, as technology advances and costs
decline, NTNs may eventually carry a substantial share of global mobile traffic,
and the first efforts are already underway.
For example, T-Mobile and SpaceX are testing Starlink Direct-to-Cell (DTC),
initially supporting text messaging, but later expanding to voice and data.
AT&T, partnering with AST SpaceMobile, is developing a satellite-based 5G
network, while Verizon and Amazon's Project Kuiper aim to expand rural
broadband. Vodafone has demonstrated satellite-based mobile video calls and
plans a European commercial launch by 2025.
Satellite networks differ significantly from terrestrial 5G millimeter-wave
technology, which provides high bandwidth in dense urban areas but requires
extensive small-cell deployment. While NTNs have broad coverage, they offer
lower capacity and higher latency, making them unlikely to replace
millimeter-wave use in cities where high-density capacity is crucial. Instead,
NTNs will complement terrestrial networks, reducing reliance on sub-6 GHz base
stations in rural areas while keeping mmWave infrastructure necessary for urban
cores.
The 3GPP's upcoming Release 19, expected in 2025, may introduce enhancements
like regenerative NTN architecture, improved indoor access, and expanded IoT NTN
applications. Regardless of the final implementation, NTNs are set to play a
crucial role in the future of global communications, ushering in a new era of
connectivity
 FCC Fines Pirate Radio Stations
The FCC has proposed fines against four alleged pirate radio operators in Connecticut and Ohio, with penalties ranging from $40,000 to $60,000. While not the largest fines the agency has issued, these enforcement actions stem from incidents in 2024, confirmed by FCC field agents under the PIRATE Act. This legislation established a base fine of $20,000 per observed instance of illegal broadcasting, doubling the pre-PIRATE Act penalty.
 Drexel Creates Kirigami Antennas
Researchers at Drexel University and the University of British Columbia believe kirigami, the ancient Japanese art of cutting and folding paper to create intricate three-dimensional designs, could provide a model for manufacturing the next generation of antennas. The Drexel-UBC team showed how kirigami
- a variation of origami - can transform a single sheet of acetate coated with conductive MXene ink into a flexible 3D microwave antenna whose transmission frequency can be adjusted by pulling or squeezing to slightly shift its shape. The figure shows the prototype of the MXene-based Kirigami resonant surface in the unstrained states. The next phase of this research will explore new materials and geometries for the antennas.
 China Gets New Microwave Weapon
China's NORINCO has advanced its counter-drone capabilities with the Hurricane-3000 High-Power Microwave (HPM) Weapon System. Recent reports indicate successful field tests of the system, designed to combat the rising threat of drone swarms. Despite its promising performance, the Hurricane-3000 has yet to be deployed by the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The system can detect targets up to 6 kilometers away, track them optically within a 4-kilometer range, and precisely neutralize even micro-drones beyond 3 kilometers.
 Report: MMIC Market to Reach $29 Billion by 2030
According to a new report by MarketsandMarkets, the global monolithic microwave IC market is projected to grow from USD 14.53 billion in 2025 to USD 23.91 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 10.5% during the forecast period. The rising demand for high data throughput in cellular and wireless networks, driven by the growing popularity of multimedia applications and broadband Internet, is fueling this expansion. Frequency bands such as K-band (18–27 GHz) and Ka-band (26.5–40 GHz) offer substantial spectrum availability, making them ideal for high-capacity wireless communication. Their adoption is increasing to meet the expanding bandwidth requirements of modern networks.
Anatech Electronics Introduces a New Line of Suspended Stripline and
Waveguide Type RF Filters
Check out Our Filter Products
Cavity Band Pass Filters
LC Band Pass Filters Cavity Bandstop/Notch Filter
About Anatech Electronics
Anatech Electronics, Inc. (AEI) specializes in the design and manufacture of
standard and custom RF and microwave filters and other passive components and subsystems
employed in commercial, industrial, and aerospace and applications. Products are
available from an operating frequency range of 10 kHz to 30 GHz and include cavity,
ceramic, crystal, LC, and surface acoustic wave (SAW), as well as power combiners/dividers,
duplexers and diplexers, directional couplers, terminations, attenuators, circulators,
EMI filters, and lightning arrestors. The company's custom products and capabilities
are available at www.anatechelectronics.com.
Contact:
Anatech Electronics, Inc.
70 Outwater Lane
Garfield, NJ 07026
(973)
772-4242
sales@anatechelectronics.com
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