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Data Processing Unit SDA 4.0 LDPC 2.5G

The core digital engine of NantNova's optical communication terminals, implementing SDA-compliant LDPC forward error correction at 2.5 Gbps using OOK-NRZ modulation.

The Digital Engine Behind Every Optical Link

Constellation operators need optical crosslinks that interoperate on day one — across vendors, protocols, and orbital regimes. The DPU is the processing core that makes that possible. It handles LDPC encoding, multi-protocol routing, and real-time error correction at 2.5 Gbps, so every SatLight™ terminal ships SDA-compliant and ready to close links from 1,000 to 6,000 km without integration surprises.

Built on FPGA today with an ASIC tape-out on the roadmap, the DPU is designed from the start for the DARPA Space-BACN cost and power targets. It speaks every waveform standard that matters — SDA 2.0/3.0/4.0, OISL, CCSDS, and NASA Optical — so your constellation isn’t locked into a single protocol generation. One processing unit, every standard, proven BER performance.

NantNova DPU — The digital engine behind every optical link
NantNova DPU — Multi-protocol satellite crosslinks

Platform Overview

The DPU implements SDA-compliant LDPC forward error correction at 2.5 Gbps using OOK-NRZ modulation. It handles encoding, error correction, and multi-protocol routing — enabling interoperable crosslinks across LEO constellations from 1,000 to 6,000 km.

The architecture scales from current 2.5G implementations to future high-rate configurations using 3GPP 5G NR LDPC coding, with a clear path from FPGA to ASIC for volume production.

  • FPGA-based implementation with ASIC development roadmap
  • SDA 2.0 / 3.0 / 4.0 protocol compliance
  • 3GPP 5G NR LDPC forward error correction
  • OOK-NRZ and Manchester encoding support
  • Multi-protocol: SDA, OISL, CCSDS, NASA Optical
  • LEO-to-GEO operational range: 1,000–6,000 km

DPU Hardware

OAU, PTU, and DPU Full Rack Stack Assembly

OAU + PTU + DPU — Full Rack Stack Assembly

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Interested in the DPU?

Deploy SDA-compliant LDPC forward error correction with NantNova's Data Processing Unit for your optical communication terminals.