EnSilica (AIM:ENSI) has secured a second contract worth €1.7 million from a leading European satellite manufacturer, advancing a satellite payload communications chip programme into its next phase.
The AIM-listed fabless microchip maker, which supplies application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) to the space, communications, industrial and automotive markets, will deliver the work over approximately 10 months.
The contract follows an earlier funded feasibility study, one of three satellite payload feasibility studies EnSilica disclosed on 3 November 2025.
Building on that groundwork, EnSilica will now develop the system architecture, signal processing algorithms and a systems demonstrator device, the steps required before the chip enters full ASIC development.
"We are delighted to have been selected again by this key European satellite manufacturer to continue this important programme," said chief executive Ian Lankshear.
Separately, EnSilica is joining the 5G-aNTeNna project, a consortium of six European partners led by Silicon Austria Labs targeting the European Union's IRIS² satellite constellation, which serves government, defence and enterprise users.
The group is developing a compact user terminal pairing 5G non-terrestrial network connectivity with phased array antennas for Ka-band broadband, with EnSilica supplying the satellite user terminal application-specific standard products (ASSPs).
The role gives EnSilica a foothold in the ground segment of Europe's sovereign satellite infrastructure as the market shifts toward 5G non-terrestrial networks.
News Intelligence what this means for the company
EnSilica has secured a €1.7 million second-phase contract from a European satellite manufacturer to advance a payload communications chip from feasibility into system architecture and demonstrator development—a natural progression from the earlier feasibility study disclosed in November 2025. The company is also joining a six-partner EU consortium (5G-aNTeNna) to supply satellite user terminal chips for Europe's IRIS² sovereign satellite constellation, positioning it in the ground segment of a strategic infrastructure programme as 5G non-terrestrial networks scale.
The contract extends EnSilica's satellite ASIC footprint with a repeat customer and adds exposure to Europe's sovereign space infrastructure via the IRIS² programme, both aligned with the company's stated focus on space and communications markets. Neither deal materially changes the investment case—both are incremental wins within the existing pipeline—but they validate the satellite segment as a sustained revenue stream rather than a one-off opportunity.
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