Part 1: Ground Infrastructure at a Crossroads — Virtualization & Digital IF Lead the Way

As the satellite sector undergoes one of the most rapid transformations in its history, attention is increasingly turning from the sky to the ground. The ground segment — long overshadowed by advances in spacecraft and constellations — is now being recognized as a critical enabler of orbital flexibility, network agility, and commercial scalability.

At the center of this shift is a movement away from rigid, analog architectures toward open, digital, and software-defined ground systems. In a recent podcast produced by Analysys Mason, analyst Luke Wyles described this transition as “non-negotiable” for any operator hoping to stay relevant in the new era of space-based connectivity.

“Virtualization is foundational,” Wyles noted. “It enables mesh networking, dynamic waveform switching, and the kind of integrated, service-driven operations that customers are demanding.”
(Source: Analysys Mason Podcast, Nov 2024)

Virtualization: The New Ground Imperative
As satellite operators expand into new frequency bands and deploy increasingly software-driven payloads, the old model of statically cabled IF paths and closed hardware platforms has become a bottleneck. Virtualization is being embraced not just to reduce costs, but to enable real-time service orchestration, multi-orbit routing, and integration with terrestrial infrastructure.

These trends were also echoed in the Analysys Mason podcast, where analysts emphasized that virtualization is no longer just about optimizing hardware — it’s about bringing the ground segment in line with software-defined satellite services. Cloud integration, orchestration, and waveform agility are now table stakes for operators navigating dynamic environments.

Digital IF: The Infrastructure Bridge
A key enabler of this evolution is Digital Intermediate Frequency (Digital IF) — the transport of IF signals over Ethernet/IP instead of traditional coax. Digital IF breaks the long-standing hardware dependency between modem and RF chain, allowing for:
• Flexible signal routing over virtual infrastructure
• Seamless integration between analog legacy and digital platforms
• Real-time orchestration and waveform agility
• Interoperability across diverse vendor ecosystems

Historically, the baseband-to-RF chain has been physically locked together through analog IF, making even small upgrades operationally complex. Digital IF decouples these layers, allowing each to evolve independently — while supporting seamless signal handoff across diverse, hybrid environments.

In Part 2 of this series, we’ll explore how industry economics, operator pain points, and shifting orbital realities are accelerating the push toward modernization — and how solutions like ATG’s IFLEX-D are helping operators digitize without starting from scratch. From CapEx/OpEx tradeoffs to multi-orbit readiness, we’ll dive deeper into what makes digital IF more than just a technology shift — but a strategic imperative.