At RBC Signals, we’re proud to announce our leadership role in the groundbreaking STORM project – Spectrum Trade Orchestration and Resource Management Project. This innovative initiative, backed by the UK Space Agency under the European Space Agency (ESA) ARTES program, will transform how spectrum resources are managed and utilized across the satellite communications industry.
The Spectrum Challenge: Efficiency in a Crowded Environment
With over 11,000 active satellites currently in orbit and many more planned for launch in the coming years, the demand for spectrum resources continues to grow exponentially while the available spectrum remains finite. Traditional spectrum allocation approaches have led to significant inefficiencies, including:
- Spectrum holes: Valuable bandwidth goes unused at certain times or locations whilst heavily used at other times or locations – creating both congestion and spectrum holes across space and time.
- Underutilization: We believe that spectrum holes account for between 20% and 40% of the available, licensed spectrum, representing a massive opportunity for improved utilization.
- Cost barriers: The exorbitant cost of spectrum has totally inhibited the growth of a spaced-based IoT ecosystem to date.
Introducing STORM: Transforming Static Allocations into a Dynamic Environment
The objective of the STORM project is to transform stagnant spectrum allocations into a dynamic commercial environment. STORM is a platform that leverages software-defined radios (SDR) to improve the management and allocation of radio frequency (RF) resources in the space sector.
Democratizing Access to Space Connectivity
STORM is designed to solve the problem of prohibitive spectrum costs by providing affordable access to spectrum for IoT and other similar services. By cost-effectively capturing unutilized spectrum holes from incumbent providers and creating a patchwork of usable and affordable connectivity geared toward premium IoT users, STORM has the potential to kick off an explosion of IoT-led innovation in the global market.
The STORM platform will support dynamic spectrum access and solve the spectrum inefficiency problem by allowing users to opportunistically access unutilized spectrum at optimal times. The STORM service will also deliver access to terminals with a wider capacity to capture service connectivity via a heterogeneous range of network spectra and technologies.
Collaboration and Funding
The STORM project brings together a consortium of specialized companies with complementary expertise:
- RBC Signals UK: Leading the project and providing extensive expertise in ground station services and satellite communications.
- Texuna Technologies: Contributing data and analytics capabilities essential for managing spectrum resources.
- Dione Consulting: Offering regulatory and compliance expertise to navigate the complex spectrum landscape.
The project has received backing from the European Space Agency (ESA) through its ARTES 4.0 Core Competitiveness program
Building on Our Global Ground Station Network
The STORM initiative builds on RBC Signals’ established expertise in Ground Station as a Service (GSaaS). Our global network already provides the infrastructure needed to support dynamic spectrum management, with antennas strategically positioned to maximize coverage and versatility.
Our ground stations will become spectrum management hubs, capable of dynamically allocating bandwidth resources based on real-time demand and availability. This integration creates a powerful ecosystem that will drive innovation and growth in the space sector.
A Vision for the Future of Space Connectivity
As humanity’s presence in space continues to expand, efficient spectrum management becomes increasingly vital. STORM represents a significant step forward in our mission to provide affordable, flexible, and reliable access to space spectrum and data services.
By transforming how spectrum resources are managed and utilized, we’re not just building a new product – we’re creating a foundational infrastructure for the future of space exploration, commerce, and innovation. The end result will be dynamic access to space connectivity that can support an explosion of IoT-led innovation in the global market.
Stay tuned as we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in satellite communications and beyond.
For more information about the STORM project visit https://connectivity.esa.int/projects/storm or to explore partnership opportunities, please contact us at [email protected]