Digital Intermediate Frequency Interoperability (DIFI) Consortium

DIFI PlugFest USA 2026 – October 5-8, 2026

DIFI completed its successful PlugFest 2026 event, hosted by Keysight Technologies in Santa Clara, California.

VIEW Showcase Presentations Here

TESTIMONIALS -Hear What Folks Have to Say About the Event

Agenda

This week-long event brought together over 80 DIFI members and industry participants, representing 30+ companies, to test and validate interoperability of digital IF technologies using the DIFI Standard.

DIFI 1.2.1 and 1.3 capabilities were tested during the event. The PlugFest provided a unique, hands-on environment for engineers to collaborate, troubleshoot, and advance multi-vendor compatibility across the satellite ground segment. A Showcase event was held post event with multiple presentations.

DIFI Workshop at MILCOM – October 12, 2026 – North Bethesda Marriott, USA

DIFI completed this successful and content rich event with 75+ attendees.

We hope you stopped by.

DIFI Workshop Highlights

VIEW Presentations and Posters Here

Agenda

The October workshop welcomed more than 80 attendees for a keynote, technical presentations, demonstrations, and posters showcasing the expanding DIFI ecosystem and new applications of the standard. The workshop highlighted the growing maturity of digital IF interoperability and its expanding role in the evolution of satellite ground systems. Through a keynote address, technical presentations, demonstrations, and posters, participants explored advances in interoperable digital IF technology, virtualized SATCOM applications, and next-generation antenna systems.

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, v1.3.0 – July 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.