MUMBAI: International communications and information technology company Harris has reached the $100 million mark in unfurlable antenna orders for commercial satellites during calendar year 2006.

The unfurlable mesh antennas have been ordered by satellite manufacturers in both the US and Europe and are used on satellites to transmit voice, radio and television broadcasts worldwide.

Harris says that this milestone marks an important achievement as it continues to lead the market in developing and deploying these highly specialized antennas that enable high-speed communications via commercial satellites.

The Harris antennas feature a reflective, gold mesh surface and are stowed much like an umbrella for launch. In orbit, they deploy to form a large aperture with adequate surface area to enable communications with even the smallest of handsets. The antennas cover L-Band and S-Band frequencies, depending on the mission, and range in size from 5 to 25 meters in diameter.

Harris has a team of more than 200 engineers dedicated to supporting its spaceborne unfurlable mesh antenna programmes, and has high-bay buildings with clean rooms to support the design, manufacture, integration and testing of these structures at its facilities in the US.