Sofant and Inmarsat announce joint development

NetScientific PLC

24 May 2023

 

Reach: 24 May 2023

NetScientific plc

("NetScientific" or the "Company")

Sofant Technologies and Inmarsat Government to develop Phased Array Antenna for Aircraft

NetScientific Plc (AIM: NSCI), investment and commercialisation group with an international portfolio of innovative life science, sustainability and technology companies, reports that its portfolio company, Sofant Technologies ("Sofant"), a leading innovator in advanced antenna technologies, and Inmarsat Government ("Inmarsat"), the leading provider of secure, global, mission-critical telecommunications to the US Government, have today announced a joint development aimed at revolutionising the communication capabilities of aircraft.

Together, Sofant and Inmarsat will collaborate on a state-of-the-art phased array antenna designed to enhance connectivity, reliability, and performance in airborne operations.

The collaboration will combine their respective expertise to develop an innovative solution that addresses the Government airborne users' growing demand for efficient, low-profile communication systems.

The new phased array antenna will leverage Sofant's core technology to produce a compact, lightweight, and low-power terminal, which will enable reliable, seamless high-speed global coverage on a wider range of aircraft through Inmarsat's Global Xpress (GX) network, the world's first and only high-throughput commercial wideband network available worldwide. This includes seamless switching on the GX commercial network's global service beams and Inmarsat's high-capacity, global military Ka-band (Mil Ka) network's steerable beams.

David Wither, CEO, Sofant Technologies, said:

"We are thrilled to partner with Inmarsat Government on this development program. By leveraging our leading-edge antenna technology, we aim to deliver a transformative solution that will redefine communication capabilities for airborne platforms. This collaboration aligns with our vision of revolutionizing connectivity in the aerospace industry and beyond. We are confident that our joint efforts will yield exceptional results."

Steve Gizinski, President, Inmarsat Government, said:

"We are dedicated to providing cutting-edge communication solutions that empower our customers to excel in their missions. Collaborating with Sofant Technologies allows us to push the boundaries of innovation further, and together, we will develop a phased array antenna that sets new industry standards. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in meeting the Government's growing demand for secure and reliable connectivity worldwide."

Dr Ilian Iliev, CEO of NetScientific, added:

"We gained exposure to the Sofant investment through our acquisition of EMV Capital and its portfolio, and since then NetScientific has supported investments through our capital light investment approach, combining direct and advised stakes.  A key feature of our deep tech investment model is to encourage portfolio companies to work closely with global OEMs as a capital efficient way of growth, and to internationalise early.  Hence, we are delighted with today's announcement, which is a significant milestone for Sofant.  The development collaboration between Inmarsat and Sofant underscores their commitment to driving advancements in airborne communication technology."

-Ends- 

For more information, please contact:

NetScientific

Ilian Iliev, CEO                                                                                     Via Belvedere Communications

WH Ireland (NOMAD, Financial Adviser and Broker)

Chris Fielding / Darshan Patel / Enzo Aliaj                                   [phone]

Belvedere Communications

John West / Llew Angus                                                                   [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

About NetScientific

NetScientific plc (AIM: NSCI) is an investment and commercialisation group with an international portfolio of innovative life science, sustainability and technology companies.

NetScientific identifies, invests in, and builds high growth companies in the UK and internationally. The company adds value through the proactive management of its portfolio, progressing to key value inflection points, and delivering investment returns through partial or full liquidity events.

NetScientific differentiates itself by employing a capital-light investment approach, making judicial use of its balance sheet and syndicating investments through its wholly owned VC subsidiary, EMV Capital. The group secures a mixture of direct equity stakes and carried interest stakes in its portfolio of companies, creating a lean structure that can support a large portfolio.

NetScientific is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, and is admitted to trading on AIM, a market operated by the London Stock Exchange.

www.netscientific.net

 

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