An Introduction to VSAT

Watch this short video for an introduction to VSAT. Find out what a VSAT is, how a VSAT works and which customers VSAT's are ideal for.

Learn more about how a VSAT system works: What is VSAT Technology?

Gilat VSAT contact with NBN, Ka-band initiatives boost revenues

Second quarter revenues for Gilat Satcom received a boost from the huge VSAT deployment project on behalf of NBN Co. as well as the Ka-band initiatives implemented last year.

In a conference call last August 17,  CEO Erez Antebi told investors that Gilat's 2011 Ka-band initiatives were now starting to pay off. As a series of high-capacity Ka-band satellites start launching during the late half of 2012 and enter service in 2013, Gilat will have advanced VSAT equipment designed specifically to leverage those new satellites' vast broadband capacity.

Mr. Antebi cited the recently-developed SkyEdge 2-c Aries VSAT, a new consumer terminal designed to support SES broadband satellite Internet service and other services. Connectivity and capacity will be provided by current and future Ka-band satellites.

Gilat is also working on IP tracking,  satellite-on-the-move connectivity, and other Ka-band applications due to the considerable market interest. “With our highly advanced communications equipment and versatile technology enabling multiple applications," Mr. Antebi said, "coupled with our flexibility in meeting both technical and business requirements and our strong pipeline, we believe we are well positioned to take advantage of the Ka-band satellite growth going forward."

Mr. Erez Antebi also used the conference call to report on Gilat's financial results for the second-quarter of 2012. Gilat earned $85.3 million in quarterly revenues, a modest increase compared to last year's second-quarter. The company's commercial division was able to generate a higher level of revenues thanks to its VSAT contract with NBN in Australia.

Gilat has an agreement with Australian operator Optus Networks to provide hubs, VSATs, site installation and network operation for Australia's National Broadcasting Network (NBN) Co. Gilat recently deployed the first 10,000 VSATs ordered and may end up deploying up to 48,000 sites by 2013.

Gilat deploys first 10,000 VSAT systems in Australia for NBN Interim Satellite Service

On August 14, 2012, Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd announced the successful deployment of the first 10,000 SkyEdge II VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminals) systems in Australia as part of the Interim Satellite Service of NBN Co.

Last May, Optus and Gilat announced that they expect to deploy up to 48,000 Gilat SkyEdge II VSATs over the next three years. Gilat will install and maintain the VSAT CPE; it will also handle end-to-end management and maintenance duties for the NOC (Network Operating Center) and eleven hubs across three earth stations. 

The SkyEdge II network will use IPSTAR’s Ka-band / Ku-band multi-spotbeam capacity and Optus’ Ku-band capacity to bring satellite broadband services anywhere in Australia, including remote regions unreachable by traditional fiber or advanced wireless networks. Australian households, small businesses, indigenous communities, not-for-profit organizations, schools, health clinics, and local council facilities will be able to be benefit from high-speed, high-capacity satellite internet-based services such as VoIP calls and media-rich applications.

Gilat and Optus' current VSAT network project is potentially worth $120 million, depending on the final design and the costs of network implementation.

NewSat Australia attending London VSAT 2012 Conference

The very-small-aperture-terminal (VSAT) industry has had a lot of things to chew on these past few months: A new generation of satellites, bleeding-edge technology that opened up a whole new capacious spectrum for exploitation, bandwidth costs dropping like a rock…

So, in order to gather their bearings about the new direction that the market is taking, key players of the VSAT industry -including independent Australian satellite communications company NewSat- will converge at the Lancaster London Hotel, London from September 11 to 14 for the COMSYS VSAT 2012 Conference

The VSAT 2012 Conference is an annual event that gathers operators and end-users to discuss the environment, challenges, and emerging trends and technologies that are being encountered in their industry.

VSAT industry leaders, organizations, and pivotal players will discuss a wide range of topics that includes market growth, innovation, the huge capacities of the Ka band spectrum, and business strategies to exploit the vastly-increased satellite broadband bandwidth and cheaper OPEX. Attendees will also be presented with tremendous business and network opportunities during the four-day event.

A good number of big names will be attending VSAT 2012. And one of those big names is NewSat Limited. 

The largest independent satellite communications specialist in Australia, NewSat will send representatives to London to discuss their Jabiru Satellite Program. The Australian satcom provider plans to deploy up to five next-generation geostationary Ka-band satellites within the next few years.

The first platform, Jabiru-1, will be launched in 2014. Jabiru-1 will provide Middle East, North Africa, and South East Asia with huge bandwidth capacity, a flexible payload, and a wide array of multi-spot, regional, and steerable beams.