Gilat Unveils Next-Generation VSAT SkyEdge IV 

Gilat Satellite Network headquarters in Petah Tikva, Israel.

Gilat Satellite Networks debuted its next-generation very small aperture terminal (VSAT) on Wednesday, the SkyEdge IV. The VSAT was designed for the evolving satellite connectivity ecosystem, to work across multiple orbits, with software-defined satellites, with use cases like fixed and mobile connections, 5G, and IoT.  

The company said it has already secured “significant” orders for the platform.  

The SkyEdge IV was designed to support cloud software-defined network infrastructure (NMS). The platform is equipped with Elastix-TotalNMS for network management, and includes the Aquarius family of VSATs with more than 2 Gbps total throughput.

“Gilat is bringing to market SkyEdge IV, an unprecedented deep-tech software-centric platform that will make the future multibillion-dollar VHTS [very high throughput satellite] market opportunity a reality,” said Hagay Katz, Gilat’s chief product and marketing officer.

The SkyEdge IV is backward-compatible with the SkyEdge II-c VSATs, which have seen wide commercial adoption. Orders for the SkyEdge II-c in recent months including deals for mobile network operators in Asia, a satellite service provider in Eurasia, African backhaul provider Africa Mobile Networks, and Intelsat.