Ka band

Last updated
IEEE Ka band
Frequency range
27–40 GHz
Wavelength range
11.1–7.5 mm
Related bands

The Ka band (pronounced as either "kay-ay band" or "ka band") is a portion of the microwave part of the electromagnetic spectrum. The designation "Ka-band" is from Kurz-above, which stems from the German word kurz, meaning "short". [1]

There is no standard definition of Ka-band. IEEE Standard letter designations for Radar Bands define the nominal frequency range for Ka band in the range 27–40  gigahertz (GHz) in Tables 1 and 2 of IEEE Standard 521 [2] i.e. wavelengths from slightly over one centimeter down to 7.5 millimeters. [3] The ITU however approves Ka-band satellite networks in the 17.3-31 GHz frequency range, [4] with most Ka-band satellite networks having uplinks in the 27.5-31 GHz and downlinks in the 17.7-21.2 GHz range [4] .

The band is called Ka, short for "K-above" because it is the upper part of the original (now obsolete) NATO K band, which was split into three bands because of the presence of the atmospheric water vapor resonance peak at 22.24 GHz (1.35 cm), which made the center unusable for long range transmission. The 30/20 GHz band is used in communications satellite uplinks in either the 27.5 GHz or 31 GHz bands, [5] and in high-resolution, close-range targeting radars aboard military airplanes. Some frequencies in this radio band are used for vehicle speed detection by law enforcement. [6] The Kepler Mission used this frequency range to downlink the scientific data collected by the space telescope [7] .This frequency is also used for remote sensing of clouds by radar, by both ground-based [8] or satellite [9] systems such as INCUS.

In satellite communications, the Ka band allows higher bandwidth communication. [10] It was first used in the experimental ACTS Gigabit Satellite Network, and is currently used for high-throughput satellite Internet access in geostationary orbit (GEO) by the Inmarsat I-5 system [11] , Kacific K-1 satellite [12] , the ViaSat 1, 2, and 3 satellites [13] among others; in low Earth orbit (LEO) by the SpaceX Starlink system [14] and the Iridium Next satellite series; [15] it is also used in medium Earth orbit (MEO) by the SES O3b system; [16] and the James Webb Space Telescope. [17]

Planned future satellite projects using the Ka-band include Amazon's Project Kuiper satellite internet constellation in LEO, [18] SES's multi-orbit satellite internet system of the SES-17 satellite in GEO (launched in October 2021; in position and fully operational in June 2022) [19] and the O3b mPOWER constellation in MEO (first two satellites launched December 2022, nine more 2023-2024, and starting service in Q3 2023). [20] [21] [22]

The Ka band is more susceptible to rain attenuation than is the Ku band, which in turn is more susceptible than the C band. [23] [24] The frequency is commonly used by cosmic microwave background experiments. 5th generation mobile networks will also partially overlap with the Ka band (28, 38, and 60 GHz).[ citation needed ]

See also

Related Research Articles

The Ku band is the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum in the microwave range of frequencies from 12 to 18 gigahertz (GHz). The symbol is short for "K-under", because it is the lower part of the original NATO K band, which was split into three bands because of the presence of the atmospheric water vapor resonance peak at 22.24 GHz, (1.35 cm) which made the center unusable for long range transmission. In radar applications, it ranges from 12 to 18 GHz according to the formal definition of radar frequency band nomenclature in IEEE Standard 521–2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">S band</span> Frequency range

The S band is a designation by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) for a part of the microwave band of the electromagnetic spectrum covering frequencies from 2 to 4 gigahertz (GHz). Thus it crosses the conventional boundary between the UHF and SHF bands at 3.0 GHz. The S band is used by airport surveillance radar for air traffic control, weather radar, surface ship radar, and some communications satellites, particularly satellites used by NASA to communicate with the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station. The 10 cm radar short-band ranges roughly from 1.55 to 5.2 GHz. India's regional satellite navigation network (IRNSS) broadcasts on 2.483778 to 2.500278 GHz.

The V band ("vee-band") is a standard designation by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) for a band of frequencies in the microwave portion of the electromagnetic spectrum ranging from 40 to 75 gigahertz (GHz). The V band is not heavily used, except for millimeter wave radar research and other kinds of scientific research. It should not be confused with the 600–1,000 MHz range of Band V of the UHF frequency range.

Rain fade refers primarily to the absorption of a microwave radio frequency (RF) signal by atmospheric rain, snow, or ice, and losses which are especially prevalent at frequencies above 11 GHz. It also refers to the degradation of a signal caused by the electromagnetic interference of the leading edge of a storm front. Rain fade can be caused by precipitation at the uplink or downlink location. It does not need to be raining at a location for it to be affected by rain fade, as the signal may pass through precipitation many miles away, especially if the satellite dish has a low look angle. From 5% to 20% of rain fade or satellite signal attenuation may also be caused by rain, snow, or ice on the uplink or downlink antenna reflector, radome, or feed horn. Rain fade is not limited to satellite uplinks or downlinks, as it can also affect terrestrial point-to-point microwave links.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Satellite Internet access</span> Satellite-provided Internet

Satellite Internet access is Internet access provided through communication satellites; if it can sustain high speeds, it is termed satellite broadband. Modern consumer grade satellite Internet service is typically provided to individual users through geostationary satellites that can offer relatively high data speeds, with newer satellites using the Ku band to achieve downstream data speeds up to 506 Mbit/s. In addition, new satellite internet constellations are being developed in low-earth orbit to enable low-latency internet access from space.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SES (company)</span> Communications satellite owner and operator

SES S.A., trading as SES is a Luxembourgish satellite telecommunications network provider supplying video and data connectivity worldwide to broadcasters, content and internet service providers, mobile and fixed network operators, governments and institutions.

The W band of the microwave part of the electromagnetic spectrum ranges from 75 to 110 GHz, wavelength ≈2.7–4 mm. It sits above the U.S. IEEE-designated V band (40–75 GHz) in frequency, and overlaps the NATO designated M band (60–100 GHz). The W band is used for satellite communications, millimeter-wave radar research, military radar targeting and tracking applications, and some non-military applications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medium Earth orbit</span> Earth-centered orbit above low Earth orbit and below geostationary orbit

A medium Earth orbit (MEO) is an Earth-centered orbit with an altitude above a low Earth orbit (LEO) and below a high Earth orbit (HEO) – between 2,000 and 35,786 km above sea level.

The Q band is a range of frequencies contained in the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Common usage places this range between 33 and 50 GHz, but may vary depending on the source using the term. The foregoing range corresponds to the recommended frequency band of operation of WR22 waveguides. These frequencies are equivalent to wavelengths between 6 mm and 9.1 mm in air/vacuum. The Q band is in the EHF range of the radio spectrum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">O3b</span> Satellite constellation designed for telecommunications and data backhaul from remote locations

O3b is a satellite constellation in Medium Earth orbit (MEO) owned and operated by SES, and designed to provide lower-latency broadband connectivity to remote locations for mobile network operators and internet service providers, maritime, aviation, and government and defence. It is often referred to as O3b MEO to distinguish these satellites from SES's O3b mPOWER constellation.

An amateur radio satellite is an artificial satellite built and used by amateur radio operators. It forms part of the Amateur-satellite service. These satellites use amateur radio frequency allocations to facilitate communication between amateur radio stations.

A high-throughput satellite (HTS) is a communications satellite which provides more throughput than a classic fixed service satellite (FSS). An HTS provides at least twice, though usually 20 times or more, throughput for the same amount of allocated orbital spectrum, thus significantly reducing cost-per-bit. ViaSat-1 and EchoStar XVII provide more than 100 Gbit/s of capacity, which is more than 100 times the capacity offered by a conventional FSS satellite. When it was launched in October 2011, ViaSat-1 had more capacity (140 Gbit/s) than all other commercial communications satellites over North America combined.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Starlink</span> SpaceX satellite constellation and internet service

Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by Starlink Services, LLC, an international telecommunications provider that is a wholly owned subsidiary of American aerospace company SpaceX, providing coverage to over 100 countries and territories. It also aims to provide global mobile broadband.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mobile satellite service</span>

Mobile-satellite service is – according to Article 1.25 of the International Telecommunication Union's Radio Regulations – "A radiocommunication service

SES-17, is a high throughput all electric geostationary communications satellite owned and operated by SES, and designed and manufactured by Thales Alenia Space. Launched on 24 October 2021 from Centre Spatial Guyanais (CSG), in Kourou, French Guiana by an Ariane 5ECA launch vehicle, SES-17 was positioned at 67.1° west in May 2022 and, after testing, became fully operational in June 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">C band (IEEE)</span> Range of radio frequencies from 4 to 8 GHz

The C band is a designation by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) for a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum in the microwave range of frequencies ranging from 4.0 to 8.0 gigahertz (GHz). However, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission C band proceeding and auction, designated 3.7–4.2 GHz as C band. The C band is used for many satellite communications transmissions, some cordless telephones, as well as some radar and weather radar systems.

The IEEE K-band is a portion of the radio spectrum in the microwave range of frequencies from 18 to 27 gigahertz (GHz). The range of frequencies in the center of the K-band between 18 and 26.5 GHz are absorbed by water vapor in the atmosphere due to its resonance peak at 22.24 GHz, 1.35 cm (0.53 in). Therefore these frequencies experience high atmospheric attenuation and cannot be used for long-distance applications. For this reason, the original K-band has been split into three bands: Ka-band, K-band, and Ku-band as detailed below.

Frequency bands for 5G New Radio, which is the air interface or radio access technology of the 5G mobile networks, are separated into two different frequency ranges. First there is Frequency Range 1 (FR1), which includes sub-7 GHz frequency bands, some of which are traditionally used by previous standards, but has been extended to cover potential new spectrum offerings from 410 MHz to 7125 MHz. The other is Frequency Range 2 (FR2), which includes frequency bands from 24.25 GHz to 71.0 GHz. In November and December 2023, a third band, Frequency Range 3 (FR3), covering frequencies from 7.125 GHz to 24.25 GHz, was proposed by the World Radio Conference; as of September 2024, this band has not been added to the official standard. Frequency bands are also available for non-terrestrial networks (NTN) in both the sub-7 GHz and in the 17.3 GHz to 30 GHz ranges.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">O3b mPOWER</span> Communications satellite system

O3b mPOWER is a communications satellite system owned and operated by SES. The system uses high-throughput and low-latency satellites in a medium Earth orbit (MEO), along with ground infrastructure and intelligent software, to provide multiple terabits of global broadband connectivity for applications including cellular backhaul and international IP trunking, cruise line connectivity, disaster recovery, and military communications. The first O3b mPOWER satellites were launched in December 2022 and the system became operational in April 2024 with 6 satellites. The system's capacity will be increased by a further 7 satellites launched by 2026.

Honeywell's JetWave is a piece of satellite communications hardware produced by Honeywell that enables global in-flight internet connectivity. Its connectivity is provided using Inmarsat’s GX Aviation network. The JetWave platform is used in business and general aviation, as well as defense and commercial airline users.

References

  1. ↑ "K-Band (in German)". www.itwissen.info.
  2. ↑ IEEE Standard Letter Designations for Radar-Frequency Bands, IEEE, retrieved 2024-10-30
  3. ↑ "Basics of Space Flight Section I. The Environment of Space".
  4. 1 2 Christensen, Jorn (September 2012). "ITU Regulations for Ka-band Satellite Networks" (PDF). ITU. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Ka Band". 6 April 2019.
  6. ↑ Elert, Glenn. "Frequency of a Police Radar Gun".
  7. ↑ Pham, Timothy; Liao, Jason (2016-09-13). "Characterization of Operational Performance of Ka-Band Links in Deep Space Network".{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. ↑ https://amof.ac.uk/instruments/mobile-cloud-radar/
  9. ↑ https://incus.colostate.edu/mission/mission-instruments
  10. ↑ L/Ku/Ka-band satellites – what does it all mean? Archived 2021-04-30 at the Wayback Machine Get Connected. 11 September 2017. Accessed 27 April 2021
  11. ↑ "Inmarsat - Inmarsat Announces $1.2bn Investment in Next Generation Ka-Band Satellite Network - Press Release". Archived from the original on May 11, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Technology". Kacific. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
  13. ↑ "Satellite fleet". Viasat.com. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
  14. ↑ "SpaceX seeks FCC permission for operating all first-gen Starlink in lower orbit". SpaceNews.com. 2020-04-21. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  15. ↑ Iridium-NEXT Gunter's Space Page. Accessed 28 April 2021
  16. ↑ Four New Satellites Ride Into Space To Join Growing SES Constellation Space.com 4 April 2019. Accessed 28 April 2021
  17. ↑ James Webb Space Telescope User Documentation - JWST Communications Subsystem Space Terlescope Science Institute. Accessed 28 April 2021
  18. ↑ Foust, Jeff (15 December 2020). "Amazon unveils flat-panel customer terminal for Kuiper constellation". SpaceNews . Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  19. ↑ SES-17 Ka-Band Satellite is Now Operational Via Satellite. 16 June 2022. Accessed 27 June 2022
  20. ↑ SES’ Satellites’ Agility Achieved With ARC and Kythera Space Solutions SatNews. 24 November 2020. Accessed 28 April 2021
  21. ↑ "SES YTD 2021 Results" (PDF). SES . 4 November 2021. p. 4. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  22. ↑ SpaceX launches first pair of O3b mPower satellites SpaceNews. 16 December 2022. Accessed 27 December 2022
  23. ↑ Suquet, Étienne; Monvoisin, Jean‐Pascal; Castanet, Laurent; Féral, Laurent; Boulanger, Xavier (March 2024). "Twelve years of rain attenuation statistics of Earth–space propagation experiment at Ka band in Toulouse". International Journal of Satellite Communications and Networking. 42 (2): 165–180. doi:10.1002/sat.1505. ISSN   1542-0973.
  24. ↑ "The impact of weather on Ka-band frequencies - Room: The Space Journal". Room The Space Journal of Asgardia. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.