Gilat ESA. Photo: Gilat

Gilat Satellite Networks’ Electronically Steered Antenna (ESA) has been successfully tested over Inmarsat’s Global Xpress (GX) network, the companies announced Thursday. Gilat’s open-architecture antenna has been integrated with Inmarsat’s G-MODMAN solution. 

This marked the first time a live demonstration of an ESA terminal was executed on an operational GX satellite. In the test, performed on Inmarsat-5 F1 satellite at 62.6 degrees East, Gilat’s self-pointing antenna automatically logged onto the GX network, and supported bi-directional real-time communication in both fixed and dynamic antenna positioning modes.

“The seamless integration of our G-MODMAN with Gilat’s antenna control system, via standard open interfaces, is a key enabler to demonstrate the ability to support Electronic Steered Array technology in Inmarsat’s global satellite network,” commented Jerome Soumagne, chief engineer and vice president of Networks at Inmarsat.