Hanwha Systems Acquired the Business
and Assets of Phasor Solutions,
a U.K.-based Satellite Communication Antenna Developer, to Step Up Its Advance Into the Global Business

Hanwha Systems (CEO: Youn Chul Kim) recently closed a deal to acquire the business and assets from a leading overseas satellite communication antenna developer in an effort to build its future growth engine and advance into the global market.

Hanwha Systems released its acquisition of the business and assets of Phasor Solutions, Ltd., a U.K. tech venture for satellite communication antenna technology, which was made as of June 5th, 2020(local time).

Phasor Solutions is a UK based company founded in 2005 to develop satellite communication antenna technology. Phasor Solutions has been the leading developer of broadband electronically steerable antenna (ESA), that enable high-speed communications in-flight, at sea, or on land. Its R&D efforts have been focused on the design and development of next-generation semi-conductor-based satellite antennas.

Phasor Solutions is providing planar antennas, which boast of strong performances, all made possible by applying the most advanced technologies in the world.

Phasor Solutions’ industry-leading proprietary technologies include flat-antenna-beam steering and semi-conductor chip-design technology required for  transmission/reception (Tx/Rx) controls. By acquiring the business and assets of Phasor Solutions, Hanwha Systems secured Phasor Solutions’ engineers, proprietary technology including technical data and Intellectual Property Rights as well as tangible assets like test equipment, etc.

Meanwhile, Hanwha Systems has been searching for its future growth engine and looked at possible investment opportunities in satellite communication antenna business since last year.

Hanwha Systems is Korea’s No. 1 Multi-Functional-Radar (MFR) technology company securing many high tech communications and radar technologies, and it is planning to enter into the satellite communication antenna business, where Hanwha Systems’ existing communication and radar technologies can be fully utilized, and securing proprietary technology for Low-Earth-Orbit satellite antenna, thereby strengthening Hanwha Systems’ aerospace system capabilities.

As for Low-Earth-Orbit satellite communication, it is one of the next generation technologies, which provides broadband connectivity such as 5G, LTE internet services from the satellites hovering over the Earth. Now, leading US tech giants like Amazon, SpaceX, etc., are scrambling to capture this satellite broadband connectivity business, which does not require any base stations for the internet services.

Phasor Solutions’ satellite antenna technology will be the key to making this happen. They can be installed on almost any type of vehicle – including airplane, ship, train, or vehicle, etc – to enable reliable data connectivity to Low-Earth-Orbit satellites from anywhere in the world.

In particular, since this technology can offer high quality wireless internet services like video streaming on the airplane, and can be used for autonomous vehicle telematics (wireless internet services for vehicles), the demand for this technology is expected to grow explosively. In line with this trend, the market volume for satellite communication equipment is likely to grow continuously, reaching up to $42.4 billion(Approx. 50 trillion won) by 2026.

Youn Chul Kim, CEO of Hanwha Systems, mentioned that, “Our company made a swift decision for the investment as this market has the big potential for the growth and this technology is of strategic importance for Hanwha Systems.” He also said that “We will broaden the existing telecommunications, sensor, ICT (Information & Communication Technology) capabilities to satellite antenna technology base, so that we can level up Hanwha Systems’ corporate values and competitiveness.”

In line with this ambitious move, Hanwha Systems will accelerate its efforts to identify new businesses for the company’s continuous growth and advance into the global business. In July 2019, the company announced its plan to enter into Personal-Air Vehicle (PAV) industry. Also, in February 2020, the office opening ceremony of Overair, Inc., was held to initiate Hanwha Systems’ collaborative development of Butterfly, one of PAV models. By the acquisition of Phasor Solutions’ business and assets, Hanwha Systems now broadens the horizon for its future business areas to the global satellite communication business.