ott 28, 2025

Eutelsat upgrades teleports with Rohde & Schwarz satellite uplink amplifiers

High efficiency and resilient Ku-band amplifiers for excellent RF performance

Munich, October 28, 2025 — Leading satellite operator Eutelsat has selected the R&S®PKU100-I amplifier to upgrade its teleports worldwide.

Eutelsat provides connectivity and broadcast services worldwide for broadcast and media enterprises as well as for businesses and governments. Today, Eutelsat’s video services supports the broadcast of over 6,400 television channels. To meet the demands of its clients, the company delivers highly reliable uplink services that ensure uninterrupted operation.

The R&S®PKU100 is an advanced solid-state satellite uplink amplifier, engineered with cutting-edge hardware and integrated intelligent software to provide exceptional resilience with operational efficiency. It is available in 400 W and 750 W variants, and in rackmount and weatherproof outdoor housings.

To maximize signal quality, the R&S®PKU100 is the first satellite uplink amplifier to provide adaptive digital linearization. This also gives the amplifier unprecedented levels of efficiency, reducing power consumption by 50% over a typical tube-based equivalent. PKU100 solid state amplifiers can last in operation for 10 to 15 years, which is double the typical longevity of a Traveling Wave Tube Amplifier (TWTA), significantly reducing the long-term investment for Teleport operators.

The solid-state architecture ensures high internal resilience, allowing the uplink to continue to operate on reduced power in the event of a problem, rather than failing completely. Being solid-state, a backup amplifier can be powered up and online in moments from cold standby, eliminating the wasted energy consumption when there is a need for hot standby of inefficient tube amplifiers.

“In refreshing our teleports, we were looking for an amplifier that could slot straight into our existing architecture, while minimizing risk throughout the lifecycle of the device,” said Michaël Girard, Ground Segment Project Manager at Eutelsat. “Rohde & Schwarz has been a trusted partner for many years through its test and measurement equipment, and it was able to demonstrate class-leading resilience and energy efficiency, coupled with the level of support we know we get from the company.”

Steven Edwards, Vice President Broadcast Distribution Systems at Rohde & Schwarz added “The key issue for any teleport operator – beyond of course high signal quality and efficient operation – is a resilient and flexible ground infrastructure. The R&S®PKU100, with its modern solid-state design, is inherently extremely resilient, enhanced with unique features like self-protection and self-monitoring, which enables reliable and effortless operation while minimizing operational costs.”

The project involves the delivery of a significant number of R&S®PKU100 satellite uplink amplifiers to Eutelsat teleports, with the upgrade project scheduled for completion in the next three years.

Press & media contact

Rohde & Schwarz

Rohde & Schwarz is striving for a safer and connected world with its Test & Measurement, Technology Systems and Networks & Cybersecurity Divisions. For over 90 years, the global technology group has pushed technical boundaries with developments in cutting-edge technologies. The company's leading-edge products and solutions empower industrial, regulatory and government customers to attain technological and digital sovereignty. The privately owned, Munich based company can act independently, long-term and sustainably. Rohde & Schwarz generated net revenue of EUR 3.16 billion in the 2024/2025 fiscal year (July to June). On June 30, 2025, Rohde & Schwarz had more than 15,000 employees worldwide.

R&S® is a registered trademark of Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG.

Rohde & Schwarz Broadcast

For decades, Rohde & Schwarz has been a leading technology innovator in broadcast distribution and a trusted partner. Broadcast solutions from Rohde & Schwarz deliver the latest generation of energy-efficient, software-defined transmitters and enable network operators to leverage new broadcast technologies.