Antaris partners Digital Penang to tap E&E ecosystem

• Aims to facilitate satellite operators to readily access Antaris SaaS
• Marketplace for Penang based suppliers to access local, global demand

Antaris and Digital Penang have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate for capability and capacity building of the local electrical and Electronic (E&E) ecosystem for the space technology supply chain.

In a statement, the Silicon Valley-based space startup which provides software-defined satellite platforms in software-as-a-service (SaaS) business models said the objective of the MoU is to facilitate satellite operators/mission owners to readily access Antaris' SaaS for designing, building, and managing their satellites. 

It added that the MoU will provide Antaris Marketplace listing for Penang based qualified suppliers to access local and global demand and will broaden the ecosystem through open-source led partnerships and training.

Co-founder and chief product and revenue officer of Antaris, Shankar Sivaprakasam, said “It is a privilege to be working with Digital Penang to bring the existing E&E supply chain participants and new entrants to the space sector which will contribute to the state’s and national space economy.”

Meanwhile, Tony Yeoh, chief executive officer of Digital Penang said Penang which is also known as the ‘Silicon Valley of the East’ has so far been deeply focused on medical-tech and E&E supply chain. 

“This partnership leverages our engineering prowess to extend into the next fastest-growing adjacent sector in the space technology supply chain,” he said.

Antaris said it is addressing the proprietary nature of the satellite industry dominated by a few established players by open-sourcing a next-generation software-defined satellite platform for satellite lifecycle management. 

This approach creates a more level playing field for new entrants to the space sector in the region, it said.

The company said it is launching a 6U CubeSat demonstrator satellite with multiple customer demonstrator payloads in Q3, 2022, on an ISRO launch vehicle to Low Earth Orbit. 

It added that the launch, will space qualify (high TRL) Antaris software-defined satellite platform and the payloads.