At European Microwave Week 2025, Electronic Specifier’s Editor, Mick Elliott speaks to Ryan Jennings, Director, Satcoms & Systems at Qorvo about their new TDD beamformer IC, its features and applications and reveals how Qorvo’s beamforming IC technology is being used in a collaboration with SIAE MICROELLETRONICA.
Qorvo introduced a new half-duplex beamformer IC for the Ku band, designed to support Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satcom constellations such as Starlink, OneWeb, and emerging networks from China, for example. The device supports four antenna elements for both transmit and receive, allowing for smaller, lower-cost antenna designs compared with full-duplex systems that require separate transmit and receive paths.
According to Jennings, the design delivers high performance in terms of DC power efficiency, noise figure, and silicon footprint, making it cost-effective for applications where size, weight, and affordability are critical. Initial testing has been completed, with samples expected within the coming month and volume production planned for early next year.
The IC has been developed with home Internet and mobile commercial applications in mind, with costs being a key factor. Jennings highlighted that while Qorvo is primarily a component manufacturer, it designs its products with a systems-level perspective. The company also offers applications support, including design reviews, to help customers integrate products more effectively and accelerate time-to-market.
The new product expands Qorvo’s existing portfolio, which already includes a frequency-division duplex (FDD) beamformer, launched earlier this year, and a Ka-band device currently in testing.
Jennings also revealed details of Qorvo’s collaboration with SIAE MICROELLETRONICA. In this project, a Qorvo 5G part, repurposed for space, is being used in a Ka-band phased array for satellite downlink applications. This approach allows electronic beam steering, enabling satellites to extend downlink windows by 20 to 40 minutes beyond what fixed antennas allow. The collaboration, part of a European government-funded initiative, is currently in the prototype phase, with promising results supporting further development.
Through these developments, Qorvo is positioning its beamforming ICs to meet the growing demand in the expanding LEO and satellite communications markets.
Watch the video below to learn more.
