Digital Intermediate Frequency Interoperability (DIFI) Consortium

DIFI Webinar: How to Get the Full Value of Your ESA

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE WEBINAR

The DIFI ESA Specifications Working Group was held on June 5 for an in-depth webinar exploring how standardization – particularly through open, interoperable digital interfaces – is key to maximizing ESA potential. This session dove into how DIFI-based specifications enable integration with modems, RF chains, and ground segment orchestration systems, ultimately lowering costs, enhancing scalability, and improving time-to-market. Our speakers included:

Jeremy Turpin, Chief Scientist and Co-Founder, ALL.SPACE (Moderator)
Ryan Stevenson, Senior Vice President and Chief Scientist, Kymeta Corporation
Bill Milroy, Chairman and CTO, ThinKom Solutions, Inc.
Gavin Cox, Research and Development Engineering Manager, Global Invacom Group

September 8-11, 2025 – DIFI PlugFest 2025 Europe

EQUIPMENT DEMONSTRATION PARTICIPATION IS CLOSED

PLEASE EMAIL DIRECT FOR GENERAL OBSERVER ATTENDANCE: difi-plugfest@work-microwave.com

Click here to VIEW AGENDA

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.

About DIFI

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.

Download the Standard

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!

Join DIFI

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.