Array Fed Reflector (AFR) antennas provide a favourable trade-off between performance (e.g. gain) and complexity (e.g. number of antenna ports) for emerging broadband satellites in geostationary orbit. In light of emerging digital AFR payloads, satellite integrators and operators are in need of a) efficient optimization processes to define the antenna configuration (Optics, Focal Array) that is the most flexible and best suited for user distribution, and b) practical techniques for the dynamic reconfiguration of the payload during operation in a reduced timescale. Addressing industrially pertinent needs, this activity will adapt recent developments by ESA on pragmatic techniques for implementing Massive MIMO in satellite systems that were originally conceived and illustrated in the context of direct radiating arrays to practical AFR scenarios.
