Gilat wins SkyEdge IV order from SES
February 8, 2022
By Chris Forrester
Israel-based satellite networking specialist Gilat Satellite Networks has expanded its strategic partnership with SES.
SES has selected Gilat’s SkyEdge IV platform to operate with its SES-17 satellite, a very high throughput satellite (VHTS) to provide fixed services and mobility services.
Gilat’s SkyEdge IV is a multi-orbit platform that was designed to interface and smoothly integrate with non-geostationary constellations and geostationary VHTS, such as the recently-launched SES-17. SES will be using SkyEdge IV simultaneously for both SES-17 and its upcoming second generation NGSO constellation, O3b mPOWER. The SkyEdge IV multi-service platform will be utilised by SES to deliver cellular-backhaul and enterprise services, in addition to previously announced maritime services.
SES-17 is a geostationary satellite designed for high-speed connectivity and flexibility for end-users in the Americas, the Caribbean, and the Atlantic Ocean.
SkyEdge IV ensures unified operation with seamless switchover between SES-17 and the O3b mPOWER constellation. Empowering SkyEdge IV is Gilat’s Elastix-Total NMS network management system, which was optimised to work in harmony with SES’s Adaptive Resource Control (ARC).
“We are excited and proud to work with our partner, SES, to support their multi-orbit network, including the O3b mPOWER constellation, SES-17, and other satellites as they are launched. The integration of SkyEdge IV with SES’s ARC system ensures space and ground coordination and unified operation, forming a resilient and secure network,” said Amir Yafe, VP/Mobility & Global Accounts at Gilat. “Gilat’s SkyEdge IV is a multi-orbit, multi-service platform built to lead the satcom industry, supporting cloud infrastructure, an Elastix-Access Scheme, and working in harmony with next generation software-defined satellites.”