Intelsat will use Gilat’s SkyEdge II-c system to expand commercial and business aviation services in Asia. Photo: Gilat

Intelsat and Gilat Satellite Networks are expanding their strategic partnership in commercial aviation. Intelsat will use Gilat’s SkyEdge II-c system to expand commercial and business aviation services in Asia.

Intelsat Senior Vice President of Commercial Aviation, Dave Bijur said in the Monday announcement that this collaboration will bring significant revenue growth in in-flight connectivity (IFC) for Intelsat. 

Intelsat has been improving its position in IFC after acquiring Gogo’s Commercial Aviation business in 2020. Intelsat recently ordered two new satellites from Thales Alenia Space that will cover Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia for mobility services, including aviation, and cellular backhaul. 

Gilat’s SkyEdge II-c VSAT network platform supports multiple applications including in-flight connectivity (IFC), consumer broadband, and cellular backhaul. It is accompanied by the network management system, TotalNMS, which allows for full configuration, control and monitoring of all system elements and remote terminals. 

“This network expansion is a testament to the strength of Gilat technology for IFC. The expanded network will address the increased demand for internet connectivity in the commercial and business aviation market on a global scale and, with the current recovery of global aviation, the timing couldn’t be better,” commented Amir Yafe, vice president of Mobility and Global Accounts at Gilat. 

Gilat has secured a number of orders for the SkyEdge II-c in recent months including deals for mobile network operators in Asia, a satellite service provider in Eurasia, and African backhaul provider Africa Mobile Networks.