by Bernardo Schneiderman
The Global satellite market has been moving toward multi-orbit satellite solutions as consequence have been driving demand for advanced, flexible antennas that can automatically and seamlessly switch between Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), and Geostationary Orbit (GEO) satellites.
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The trend of multi-orbit satellite antennas began to emerge around 2018, with significant milestones occurring in 2021. While satellite communication has existed since the 1960s, the current trend involves new, electronically-steered terminals that can seamlessly connect to satellites in multiple orbit
During a recent conference executives from satellite companies reinforced the view that multi-orbit systems combining satellites at different constellation altitudes are now a concrete reality for the corporate, government and defense market and are no longer just a trend.
The satellite market after decades of geostationary (GEO) satellite dominance, has undergone a rapid transition toward low-Earth orbit (LEO) systems, mainly driven by the growth of constellations such as Starlink, OneWeb and the implementation of Project Kuiper which have enabled greater flexibility for new applications. These multi-orbit solutions are applicable to services that require a higher SLA (service level agreement), where the risk of downtime is unavoidable, as this could lead to major losses.”
The Satellite Executive Briefing invitedsatellite antenna manufacturing companies to provide feedback on how they are addressing the market both in the segments of land, maritime and aeronautical with applications in enterprise, government and defense segments.
We received responses from the following executives: Kenny Kirchoff, VP-Product Management, Antennas Terminal Products, Gilat Satellite Networks; Bob Potter, Chief Technology Officer, Global Invacom; Blad Stavropoulos, Senior Director Sales and Solutions Engineering, Global Invacom; Rick Bergman, CEO of Kymeta; Amelia Liu, COO of Starwin; and Jeff Sare, Chief Commercial Officer, ThinKom. Follows are excerpts from the virutal roundtable:
Please provide a brief profile of your company and a current status of your multi-orbit antenna solutions for the market?
Gilat: Gilat Satellite Networks is a leading global provider of satellite-based broadband communications. With over 35 years of experience, we develop and deliver deep technology solutions for satellite, ground, and new space connectivity, offering next-generation solutions and services for critical connectivity across commercial and defense applications.
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Our portfolio includes a diverse offering to deliver high-value solutions for multiple orbit constellations with very high throughput satellites (VHTS) and software-defined satellites (SDS). Our offering is comprised of a cloud-based platform and high-performance satellite terminals; high-performance Satellite On-the-Move (SOTM) antennas; highly efficient, high-power Solid State Power Amplifiers (SSPA) and Block Upconverters (BUC) and includes integrated ground systems for commercial and defense, field services, network management software, and cybersecurity services.
Gilat Stellar Blu, a subsidiary of Gilat Satellite Networks and center of excellence for Gilat's antenna solutions and terminals for air, sea, and land applications has approximately 275 multi-orbit electronically steered antenna (ESA) terminals installed and flying on commercial, VIP and MoD aircraft today. They have logged >175,000 flights and >250,000 hours of flight time with an availability rate in the high-90’s percentile.
Gilat also offers the ESR 2030Ku product, a LEO OneWeb business aviation ESA supporting full duplex in-flight connectivity. The ESR 2030Ku is a fully integrated Line Replaceable Unit (LRU)suitable for business aviation and government markets., consolidating multiple key functions into a single, compact unit.
The design incorporates: Active transmit and receive apertures; Frequency conversion unit; Antenna control unit and OneWeb GPS receiver.
In addition, the ESR 2030Ku boasts a highly efficient aperture design, resulting in smaller aperture size and lower power consumption.
Global Invacom - For over thirty years, we have served the satellite ground equipment market, delivering an extensive portfolio of innovative and award-winning technologies, products, and solutions. With millions of products deployed across a wide range of markets, our technology underpins the largest satellite broadband and broadcast networks in the world. And uniquely, we continue to design and build all our products in-house, giving us total quality control and assuring our customers of optimal supply chain resilience.
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| Intellian NX Series- V100NX 1 m ku-Ka dual band GEO/MEO/LEO VSAT Terminal |
The surge in demand for multi-orbit antenna solutions is set to continue because of the massive projected growth in the deployment of multi-orbit satellite constellations and we are fully prepared for it. We have consistently tracked the market and ensured that our antenna technology can support the requirements of our customers across GEO, MEO and LEO. We are constantly working with our customers and listening to their feedback and requirements to inform our R&D process. As we design our products in-house, we can optimize our products to meet particular multi-orbit market requirements, so we have great flexibility and we are always innovating. For example, Our Obliquiti is an end-to-end platform designed to serve NGSO and GEO networks and scales to provide cost-effective gigabit services in multiple bands. We have also developed our Titan antenna system which answers the growing need for NGSO gateway antenna platforms that is highly portable yet robust and suitable for fixed and nomadic scenarios. Another example of our R&D in this area can be found in SatSenz, a virtual modem hosting technology that will enable future network roaming.
Intellian – Intellian is the established global leader in resilient satellite communication solutions, specializing in advanced antenna systems and ground gateways that define the future of global connectivity. Our core mission is delivering high-performance, future-proof communications across all major market segments.
We maintain a clear competitive advantage by working with more satellite operators than any other manufacturer in the industry. As experts in all satellite orbits - including GEO, MEO, LEO, and HEO - the status of our multi-orbit strategy is highly advanced and market-proven. We pioneered this field, moving far beyond concept to deliver a diverse portfolio of over 18 multi-orbit solutions. This range began with our world-first flagship v240M terminal (released in 2013), and extends to our WGS-certified ARC-Series of military antennas. While our industry-standard NX Series offers multi-orbit flexibility via conversion kits, the majority of our next-generation portfolio features automated electronic switching between the specific orbits and for some this also includes multi-band, required for maximum hybrid connectivity resilience.
Kymeta: Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Redmond, Washington, Kymeta utilizes cutting-edge metamaterial technology to manufacture multi-orbit, multi-network intelligent communications platforms. Its platforms offer software-defined solutions, enabling continuous connectivity even in the most contested environments.
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| Kymeta Goshawk Front and side image Antenna |
Kymeta’s current product range includes:
- Osprey u8™: GEO-LEO-LTE terminal providing a customized connectivity platform for military communications. Designed for easy installation on military vehicles and vessels to provide reliable connectivity in contested conditions.
- Goshawk u8™: Delivers multi-orbit, multi-network satellite communications on a single terminal (GEO-LEO-LTE). Provides jamming mitigation, seamless integration with existing networks, and a low-profile design.
- Peregrine u8™: Designed specifically for maritime use cases, delivers reliable connectivity by seamlessly integrating with vessels’ IT infrastructure (LEO-.
- Hawk u8™: Utilizes Kymeta’s electronically steered antenna (ESA) to provide GEO or LEO connectivity for fixed and mobile applications.
StarWin: StarWin is a world-leading one-stop solution provider for satellite communication terminals, antennas, and signal processing technologies. We supply cutting-edge Ku and Ka band Electronically Steered Phased Array Terminals for land, maritime, and airborne applications across GEO, LEO, and MEO orbits. Our broadband ESA terminals can be seamlessly integrated with self-developed UHF, L, and S band terminals, ensuring compatibility not only with the TianQi IoT LEO constellation but also with multi-orbit satellite systems.
With terminal products qualified by dozens of satellite operators worldwide, and holding internationally recognized certifications such as FCC, CE, RCM, and Anatel—along with more than 200 independent intellectual properties—StarWin’s new generation of high-performance ultra-small ESA terminals has entered large-scale mass production. Our technology for government and enterprise applications has evolved from “high-quality usability” to “empowerment and popularization.”
Pioneering the development of an AI-driven integrated system that combines Communication (5G + NTN-Satcom), Navigation, Remote Sensing, and Measurement, StarWin has achieved a strategic leap from adapting to scenarios—including government emergency response, disaster relief, defense, firefighting, oil and gas, power grids, logistics, construction, and adventure tourism—to actively creating new scenarios. We safeguard the low-altitude economy, support unmanned and smart shipping vehicles, enable pan-robotic applications, empower consumer-grade vehicles, contribute to rural revitalization, and participate in global digital infrastructure construction.
StarWin Ku, Ka ESA terminal has unique features of scalability for configuring from Ultra -Small ESA terminal to medium and big size for not only working under GEO, but also under LEO and MEO. And especially StarWin Ku ESA terminal now can be working under Chinese LEO such as Spacesail and Ka ESA terminal working with China Satnet and MEO -Chinese Qing Song and expect to be qualified by SES mPower MEO constellation. All these muliti-orbit Terminals are also versatile for land, marine and air mobility.
Thinkom: Based in Hawthorne, California, ThinKom Solutions, Inc. designs and manufactures high‑performance antennas and phased-array antenna systems for commercial, government, and defense applications, including Inflight Connectivity (IFC), Counter‑Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C‑UAS), and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR).
By leveraging proprietary, patented designs, ThinKom delivers broadband solutions that are fast, resilient, and cost-efficient, serving millions of users worldwide.
Our phased-array terminals are uniquely capable of operating across all satellite orbits—GEO, MEO, HEO and LEO—either selectively or simultaneously, ensuring maximum flexibility and user experience. Today, our ThinAir® products are committed or flying on more than 2,500 aircraft, and we continue to expand capabilities for the next generation of multi-orbit connectivity.
What applications for the multi orbit antenna are you are offering to the commercial and defense/government market?
Gilat: The Gilat Stellar Blu Sidewinder terminal is a complete multi-orbit, Ku-band SATCOM in-flight connectivity solution in the commercial, business, VIP and MoD aviation sector. The Sidewinder terminal consists of the ESA antennas that mount on top of the aircraft fuselage as well as the interior line replaceable units (LRUs) consisting of the antenna control & modem management unit (ACMU) and power supply unit (PSU). The ACMU contains the OneWeb aero modem required for enabling LEO service. The Sidewinder terminal is integrated with our GEO satellite service provider partners using their modem manager (MODMAN) LRU to enable GEO services. Our satellite service partners also serve as OneWeb distribution partners to manage the entire multi-orbit service for the airline operator or end customer.
Global Invacom: Space is becoming easier than ever to access as technology evolves for multi orbit antenna systems that can be integrated with multi waveform modem technology. This offers governments the option of high quality of service and the multi-orbit nature of the services available means that they have access to diverse, resilient, secure mission-critical connectivity.
We design and produce a wide range of multi-orbit products that are optimised for government and defense use from flyaway, highly portable systems to vehicle-integrated mobile terminals and indoor or underground non-line of sight solutions. Our solutions are both robust and secure and can be deployed for remote operations in the harshest environments. Our systems can also be deployed in disaster situations for emergency response vehicles to temporary crisis centers, utilizing both permanent and fast-deploy terminals and gateway ODUs optimized for these use cases. Our antenna systems can host hardware based or virtualized multi waveform modems and provide auto connect to networks when required.
Intellian: Our antennas empower connectivity so the applications for our multi-orbit antennas span the entire spectrum of high-demand maritime connectivity, requiring mission-critical resilience. In the commercial market this means achieving the elusive 'home-like' experience at sea, supporting bandwidth-intensive applications like guest streaming, real-time cloud migration, and IoT vessel management for greater operational efficiency and enhanced crew and passenger welfare. For Defense and Government, the application is typically for high-volume intelligence sharing and maintaining essential communications.
Kymeta: Kymeta’s terminals have a broad range of applications across the defense and government market, including land and maritime defense, security and intelligence, and emergency response. Across all of these areas, its multi-orbit, multi-network terminals provide resilient, always-on connectivity and situational awareness to support the success of mission-critical operations.
Kymeta’s terminals are also deployed in a number of key areas in the commercial sector, including maritime, providing rugged connectivity solutions on cargo ships, cruise ships, and mega yachts, and land connectivity, where the terminals are deployed on commercial fleets, bus and rail networks, energy infrastructure, and for humanitarian aid.
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| Starwin Ku ESA Terminal |
Starwin: StarWin Multi-Orbit Terminal can be widely used both for Government such as Emergence recover, Disaster Relief, Fire extinguishing , Defense , Enterprise such as Oil &Gas, Power Grid , Logistic ,Transportation , and Adventure etc. and now extend to empower Low Altitude Economy -UAV etc, unmanned vehicle , unmanned shipping vehicle and enable Pan Robotic such as equipped narrow band antenna module & broadband ESA terminal, 5G module with anti-jamming antenna +timing devices with Satcom Robotic Dog, empower Vehicle industry for medium and high grade consumer markets etc.
Thinkom:Commercial IFC: ThinKom’s ThinAir Ka2517 and Ka1717 solutions operate across GEO, MEO, HEO and LEO networks, ensuring passengers and crew can reliably access bandwidth-intensive services such as streaming, social media, and productivity tools—even during peak demand. Without this multi-orbit flexibility, operators are susceptible to network outages, limited geographic coverage areas (dead spots), and congestion in highly contended airspace. Our latest ThinAir Ka2517Plus introduces simultaneous multi-orbit operation, providing redundancy and intelligent traffic routing to optimize Quality of Experience (QoE).
Defense/government: For mission-critical operations, our ThinAir GT2517 and KQ1717 deliver secure, low-latency, and high-capacity connectivity across multiple orbits. These systems support applications such as live video feeds, target tracking, ISR data transfer, and Command & Control (C2) communications. The ability to maintain reliable links in contested, remote, or high-risk environments ensures operational continuity and resilience.
What vertical market is the focus of you portfolio of Multi Orbit antennas ( ie. Land, Maritime, Aviation, etc.)?
Gilat: We are currently offering our multi-orbit Ku-band solution in the commercial, business, VIP and MoD aviation sector. We are also exploring sectors like industrial/government/MoD maritime and land mobility platforms for the multi-orbit solution.
Global Invacom: In terms of markets, we provide antenna systems for a range of verticals including broadcast; residential and enterprise broadband; government and defense (as we have already covered); land transport networks and 5G mobile backhaul.
Intellian: While our strategy has broadened to include Enterprise and Aviation, the Maritime and Government Markets is the primary driver, for now, of our multi-orbit portfolio. The unique demands of vessels constantly moving through varying coverages and facing blockage challenges are uniquely resolved with hybrid connectivity and multi-orbit solutions. Within maritime, our multi-orbit portfolio is particularly well suited for Cruise, Yachting, and Energy (vessels and platforms) verticals. These sectors share the crucial need for the highest levels of bandwidth, massive data consumption, low latency, global redundancy, and mission-critical reliability, validating our significant investment in products like the tri-band, multi-orbit v240MT 2 and our XEO Series.
In the Defense/Government Market, in addition to our expansive range of commercial solutions available to them, our Mil-Spec-qualified WGS terminals provide secure, redundant communications for naval forces, ensuring operational continuity in the harshest environments by automatically accessing the best available service at any given time. Not only that, but our ARC-M4 Block 1 is the first tri-band antenna that provides simultaneous X-band and MIL Ka-band service which ensures connectivity on WGS and has tracking capabilities across LEO, MEO, GEO and HEO.
Kymeta: The Kymeta Osprey u8 and Goshawk u8, were specifically built for government and military operations, these solutions ensure reliable, on-the-move connectivity for command and control. The multi-orbit architecture enables seamless switching between GEO and LEO, maintaining secure communications even in contested environments.
Starwin: StarWin is focusing on Land mobility and Aviation more currently by utilizing Multi Orbit Terminal.
Thinkom: ThinKom’s primary focus is aviation, where our low-profile phased-array designs deliver both aerodynamic advantages—reducing drag and fuel consumption—and compliance with strict Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) requirements. The result is higher efficiency, longer endurance, and improved overall mission or operational performance.
What differentiates your company and your offerings from your competitors?
Gilat: Gilat Stellar Blu is the only solution provider with a certified multi-orbit SATCOM terminal in the aviation sector today. Our Sidewinder terminal has been approved by OneWeb for aviation service and certified by multiple aviation and regulatory authorities for operation. We offer a robust, high performing platform that can provide global coverage with redundant capabilities in situations where a single orbit service may not always suffice.
Along with the Sidewinder, the ESR 2030Ku offers a low-profile design that minimizes drag and combined with its low weight, reduces operational overhead without compromising on performance. This advanced antenna supports diverse connectivity applications in commercial, business, and defense aviation.
These features make both the ESR 2030Ku and Sidewinder ESAs suitable for a wide range of aircraft.
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| Global Invacom multiorbit XY Antenna |
Global Invacom: We have been serving the market for over thirty years and in that time, we have seen many changes yet have always adapted and evolved with the industry through our innovative design and customer-focused approach. We utilize cutting-edge technology to produce our high-performance products and low-cost manufacturing techniques.
Our technology underpins the largest satellite broadband and broadcast networks in the world, and our portfolio comprises solutions for the transport of RF signals via multiple media. including unique waveguide technology, RF in Fibre and Satellite Communications antennas systems. Our advanced antenna solutions can incorporate the other technologies as well as our in-house design advanced satellite RF electronics, antenna controllers and mounts and mechanisms for precision tracking of satellites and superior pointing while tracking. With our products designed and built in-house, and a robust supply chain, we can take complete control of quality.
We consistently listen to our customers’ requirements and experiences, incorporating their feedback in our designs. Our focus on R&D maintains our place at the leading edge of terminal development. Our teams are working with several new technologies including Software Defined Radio (SDR), 5/6G SpaceRAN, AI satellite tracking and switching orchestration and scalable phased array antennas.
Global Invacom multiorbit XY Antenna
The XY antenna allows multi-orbit capability across Geostationary Earth Orbit Satellite (GEO), Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and High Earth Orbit (HEO).
Intellian: Our primary differentiator lies in the unmatched breadth of our network operator partnerships and our unique insight into their connectivity architecture. We are a strategic partner for nearly every major satellite operator globally, developing highly customized, often closed network terminals and integrated solutions for their specific constellations. These partnerships give us unparalleled understanding of each operator’s network architecture, so when it comes to designing our open, multi-band, multi-orbit terminals we can leverage these insights to develop solutions optimized with the collective intelligence across the satellite ecosystem.
A customer’s investment in our technology, maximizes uptime, and allows them the commercial flexibility to always choose the best available service, providing an unmatched level of operational confidence.
Kymeta: What sets Kymeta apart is its unique metamaterials technology and software-defined solutions. This combination enables the company to produce antennas that not only consume less power and are low-profile but also work seamlessly across constellations and networks with no restrictions.
Compared to phased-array antennas, Kymeta’s metamaterials-based technology enables polarization agility, allowing seamless connectivity to both GEO and LEO constellations on a single, flat-panel antenna. Metamaterials also enable the terminals to be more energy efficient, as beam steering is achieved without motors or power-hungry RF hardware.
Starwin: Our ESA terminal products differences:
- High performance- StarWin Ku, Ka ESA terminal is specially designed with ground breaking Sub array technology with AI driven Algorithm for beam forming and beam control.
- Scalability -StarWin ESA terminal can be designed and produced from small size -medium size to big size to meeting different markets' demands.
- Versatility- StarWin Ku, Ka ESA terminal can work under GEO, LEO and MEO.
- Multi-function: StarWin Ku, Ka ESA terminal can be in various type of COTM, COTP, and Fixed in one terminal.
- Multi-application -StarWin Ku, Ka ESA terminal can widely apply for land, marine and air scenario.
StarWin R&D is not only dedicated to contribute to Satcom ecosystem with FDD ESA terminal now we also have TDD model ESA terminal for Chinese LEO with smaller size and better performance for Chinese LEO satellite operators at cost effectiveness. Besides, we are working on the technology advancement on digital ESA terminal for multi-beam.
AI drive Compound Solution system with highly integrated Communication (5G+NTN-GEO, LEO, MEO) +Navigation +Remote Sensing+ Measurement to create application scenarios.
Solution Oriented Service: Superiority in quality from products and tech support, Speedy in response (7X24 in 365 days), Solution Oriented Service to make Customer Simple & Easy with more convenience and happiness.
Thinkom:ThinKom’s competitive edge lies in the efficiency and versatility of our phased-array technology. Compared to similarly sized systems, our antennas provide superior aperture gain efficiency, enabling more compact designs that operate seamlessly across GEO, HEO, MEO, and LEO. Additional differentiators include:
- Lower power consumption, eliminating the need for bulky, expensive thermal management systems
- Wide instantaneous bandwidth, ensuring compatibility across networks, modems, and modulation schemes
- Operational cost efficiency, with lower OpEx or greater throughput using the same spectrum.
These advantages translate into higher performance, reduced lifecycle costs, and greater adaptability across commercial and defense use cases.
Anything else you would like to add?
Gilat: We are continually evaluating multiple markets and platforms for applying our ESA solutions across different frequency bands of operation. With the announcement earlier this year of the formation of Gilat’s new Defense Division, we see opportunities for developing product offerings to satisfy the increasing demand for government and defense SATCOM solutions. The need for autonomous or unmanned vehicle SATCOM solutions is especially interesting with recent Geo-political events.
Intellian: Intellian has solutions per sector per market across all commercial bands of the satellite services of the world.
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Kymeta: This year, in a groundbreaking world-first, Kymeta achieved a major technical leap in satellite technology, simultaneously operating across both Ku and Ka frequency bands in a single, compact antenna. This breakthrough paves the way for a new era of seamless satellite connectivity across different networks and frequency bands, bringing satellite communications closer to the type of ubiquitous connection seen in cellular.
Starwin: StarWin will and is always dedicated to address all challenge in Satcom and 5G =6G field and become more flexible, resilient to work out more cutting-edge products to contribute to move forward the ecosystem's more transformation and delivery all ubiquitous connectivity to worldwide users to enjoy all domain intelligent interconnection.
Thinkom: Just to add some additional detail on our latest multi-orbit and multi spectrum solution, the ThinAir Ka2517Plus. Delta Air Lines through its partnership with Hughes has selected the “Plus” on select Airbus A321neo, A350, and Boeing 717 aircraft. Uniquely combining multi-orbit and multi-band satellite technologies the Plus blends capacity from both Ku low Earth orbit (LEO) and Ka geostationary orbit (GEO) satellites to deliver a highly reliable high speed, low latency internet service that maximizes coverage, performance, and Quality of Experience.
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Bernardo Schneiderman is the Principal of Telematics Business Consultants. He can be reached at: info@tbc-telematics.com