SKA low frequency aperture array

Signal processing combined with communications technology are at the heart of all advanced radio telescope systems. Modern IT can provide the radical improvements in capability and performance that are driving the science capabilities of the current and planned instruments. At the forefront of improved performance are the “all-electronic” collector technologies, aperture arrays. We discuss the implementation of the very large low-frequency phased array system being developed for the Square Kilometre Array. This shows opportunities for gaining flexibility to scientific benefit by using mainstream technology.