Kratos Defense & Security Solutions announced that its OpenEdge 2500 integration-ready digitizer, part of its OpenSpace® family of dynamic ground system products, has achieved official DIFI compliance, one of the first two products in the industry to obtain the recognized status.
Working under the auspices of the IEEE, the Digital IF Interoperability Consortium (DIFI) is an independent, international group of companies, organizations, and government agencies that have an interest in the interoperability of satellite ground system equipment. The DIFI Digital IF/RF Standard is intended to accelerate industry transformation beyond stove-piped, hardware-based systems and into digital software-defined networks. Adoption of this standard means network operators can choose the best of breed products with standards-based digitization.
Kratos’ OpenEdge 2500 helps satellite antenna makers digitally enable their products by converting radio frequency (RF) signals into Internet protocol (IP) data streams. The DIFI compliant digital signal is easily incorporated for use into modern software-defined communications networks. The digitizer can be embedded within any antenna, terminal or Universal Customer Premise Equipment (uCPE). Kratos digitizers are a key component in modern, software-defined ground systems because they are the bridge to digital transformation and the first step towards successfully leveraging IP networking and cloud adoption.
“Kratos continues to lead the industry in building interoperable, standards-based products that bring satellite networks into the mainstream of global communications infrastructure,” said Kevin Tobias, Director of Product Management at Kratos. “Kratos is the first and only company delivering a commercially available, software-defined and orchestrated satellite ground system platform. The OpenEdge 2500 serves as an on-ramp for converting analog satellite data and communications streams for operations and management in digital and cloud environments. Kratos’ commitment to building standards-based interoperable products supports a digital future that delivers more flexible, streamlined and affordable satellite services worldwide.”
As a founding member of the DIFI Consortium, Kratos recognizes the importance of the adoption of standards like DIFI in advancing that transformation and the satellite industry’s ability to scale and meet future demand. The implementation of the DIFI standard across a wide variety of ground system products is foundational in Kratos’ ongoing effort to support the integration of satellite services so that satellite ground systems operate seamlessly with today’s wireless and terrestrial networks.
“We are thrilled that Kratos’ OpenEdge 2500 is one of the first two products to meet compliance standards through the DIFI Certification Working Group process,” commented Stuart Daughtridge, Chairman of the DIFI Consortium. “This approval is a major milestone for Kratos, DIFI, and the satellite industry in ensuring that satellite ground segments can seamlessly adapt to rapidly changing space-layer payloads, orbits, and constellations.”
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