DIFI Webinar: How to Get the Full Value of Your ESA 
September 8-11, 2025 – DIFI PlugFest 2025 Europe
Click here to REGISTER
Click here to complete the Technical Questionnaire for companies participating in the PlugFest.
WORK Microwave’s Holzkirchen, Germany Facility is the site of the third DIFI PlugFest. Member companies test the digital operability of ground segment technology using the DIFI Standard from Monday to Thursday morning, while Thursday afternoon’s Showcase event is open to all and features a keynote, panel session, demonstrations and discussions with the companies testing the interoperability of their products.
Our Mission
The mission of the Digital Intermediate Frequency Interoperability (DIFI) Consortium is to enable the digital transformation of space, satellite, and related industries by providing a simple, open, interoperable Digital IF/RF standard that replaces the natural interoperability of analog IF signals and helps prevent vendor lock-in. A truly interoperable digital IF will enable transformation to a virtualized ground segment, reducing the total cost of ownership and significantly boosting network and terminal agility and scalability.
IEEE-ISTO Std 4900-2021: Digital IF Interoperability Standard, v1.2.1 – February 2025
The data plane interface provides the ability to transmit and receive digitized IF data and corresponding metadata over standard IP networks. This interface is meant to be fully compliant with the VITA 49.2 standards. To download the Standard, please complete the contact form below.
Membership
The newly formed consortium is in the process of implementing administrative structures and recruiting additional member companies and organizations with an interest in space networks to become active participants in DIFI. Please review the Governing Documents and join now!
Electronically-steered flat-panel antennas (ESAs) are on a clear evolutionary path from high-cost terminals for single-beam/single-use applications to increasingly affordable offerings, many with some combination of multi-beam, multi-band, and multi-orbit capabilities. Supporting these flexible antenna systems will drive demand for digital-based ground systems for signal routing and processing. The DIFI Consortium is taking up the challenge of setting up and managing services through these antennas in a way that will enable interoperability between antenna systems and digital ground systems.
If you would like to participate in this working group, please click the join button to be part of this exciting endeavor.
Latest News
GSAW 2022 – Ground Systems Architectures Workshop
GSAW 2022 - Ground Systems Architectures Workshop February 23 - March 3, 2022 - The 26th annual Ground System Architectures Workshop (GSAW) provides a forum for the world’s space-related ground system [...]
Azure Space, KSAT, RBC Signals, SSC, Viasat RTE: Satellite ground station expansion is still accelerating
...written by Peter B. De Selding January 7, 2022... Read More... PARIS — Ground station capacity providers KSAT, Microsoft Azure Space, RBC Signals, SSC and Viasat RTE are in full-throttle [...]
Consolidation with the Digital Interface Standards Working Group (DIS) Brings Seven New Members to the Digital IF Interoperability Consortium (DIFI)
DIFI Consortium Release - (December 22, 2021: Piscataway, NJ) The Digital IF Interoperability Consortium (DIFI), the independent space industry group formed to advance interoperability in satellite and ground system networks, [...]
