CTech Satellite Communication Systems begin operations in the equatorial region
December 9, 2025 – Satellite communication enables the secure transmission of data such as audio, imagery, video, and command signals via satellite, providing an uninterrupted, reliable, and geography-independent communication infrastructure. This capability is critical for UAV platforms operating across long ranges and in challenging geographical environments.
This communication is carried out via geosynchronous communication satellites positioned approximately 36,000 km above the Earth’s surface along the equatorial belt. During communication with these satellites, antennas located near the equator must point at extremely high elevation angles, in some cases almost directly to the zenith.
Such positioning requirements can lead to signal loss or instability in tracking, especially in antennas with limited mechanical axes, due to the need to orient toward the satellite at excessively steep angles. This technical challenge is defined in the literature as the Keyhole Effect, named after the extremely narrow field of view experienced as if one were looking through a keyhole.
To mitigate the impact of the Keyhole Effect, CTech — a Turkish company specializing in advanced communication technologies for the defence and aerospace domains — integrates high-precision, four-axis stabilization mechanisms (azimuth, elevation, polarization, and cross-elevation) into its SkyARX Ku-20 Qx antenna systems. This architecture ensures continuous and highly accurate satellite tracking during flight, fully independent of platform movements.
Commenting on the development, CTech General Manager Dr. Cüneyd Fırat stated:
“The positioning of geosynchronous satellites along the equatorial belt requires antennas to orient at extremely steep angles toward the satellite. This poses a significant technical challenge known in the literature as the Keyhole Effect, which makes satellite connectivity particularly difficult for fixed antennas. At CTech, we developed the SkyARX Ku-20 Qx terminal with these demanding conditions in mind. The antenna system, capable of movement along four axes, ensures stable satellite tracking even when the satellite appears almost directly overhead.”
“Redefining Communication in Challenging Conditions”
Highlighting that CTech engineering is redefining communication under demanding conditions, Fırat continued:
“Even in regions where the satellite is positioned almost at zenith, the SkyARX Ku-20 Qx antenna system ensures reliable and uninterrupted connectivity. Its advanced four-axis stabilization technology maintains precise satellite alignment even at high elevation angles. As a result, the system provides a robust and resilient communication infrastructure for high-resolution video transmission, secure data communication, and uninterrupted mission continuity across both civilian and military operations.”
Photo courtesy CTech
