Gilat Satellite Networks provides satellite-based broadband communications solutions and networks worldwide, and Amir Yafe serves as its Senior VP of Global Sales and Business Development. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Gilat Satellite Networks SVP of Global Sales and Business Development Amir Yafe to gain a deeper understanding of the company.
Acquisition Of Stellar Blu
What strategic gaps were you aiming to close with the acquisition of Stellar Blu, and how does that acquisition accelerate your growth in the IFC space? Yafe said:
“The Stellar Blu acquisition expanded Gilat’s aviation portfolio to deliver flight proven Electronically Steered Antenna (ESA) terminals. With Stellar Blu, Gilat brings end-to-end IFC solutions to the market, combining ESA array development, our powerful SkyEdge IV platform and Taurus aero modem, to deliver compact and aerodynamic multi-orbit ESA terminals. The acquisition immediately accelerates our roadmap and expands our addressable markets.”
Differentiation From Traditional Communications Companies
How does this move position Gilat differently from traditional satellite communications players? Yafe shared:
“While some players emphasize vertically integrated service bundles, Gilat takes an open-architecture, multi-network approach. We enable airline and business aviation customers to flexibly integrate GEO, MEO, and LEO networks—tailoring performance and cost to specific use cases. Stellar Blu’s hardware complements our software-defined modem ecosystem, positioning us as a nimble, multi-orbit enabler in contrast to single-stack providers.”
Purpose Of Stellar Blue Deal
Was the Stellar Blu deal driven more by technology acquisition or access to key aviation partners and certifications? Yafe pointed out:
“Both. Stellar Blu brings top-tier ESA technology alongside relationships and STCs with key OEMs and integrators. Their track record with VVIP, business, and commercial aviation primes us for rapid adoption across multiple aviation tiers. The synergy between their antennas and our global ground infrastructure is what made this deal a no-brainer.”
Addressable Market
How large is the current addressable market for multi-orbit IFC hardware, and how fast is it growing with the LEO satellite boom? Yafe assessed:
“We estimate the IFC ESA hardware market is growing at a high double-digit CAGR, especially with the commercial ramp-up of LEO networks. Over 2,000 terminals per year are expected to ship across commercial, business, and government aviation segments within the next few years. Our multi-orbit, LEO and GEO strategy puts us right at the center of this explosive growth.”
Commercial Roadmap
What does the commercial roadmap look like following your successful ESR-2030Ku test flight on Eutelsat OneWeb’s LEO network? Yafe emphasized:
“The ESR-2030Ku is a full-duplex, LEO-only terminal – the smallest, lightest, and most aerodynamic solution in the market. It delivers full broadband performance as supported by OneWeb constellation (195 Mbps down / 32 Mbps up) and is being deployed in collaboration with our strategic partner Gogo. This system brings true LEO broadband to aircraft with unmatched performance and form factor.”
Types Of Partnerships
Which types of aircraft or airline partners are you targeting first—and are there any signed deals or upcoming integrations we can expect? Yafe noted:
“We are prioritizing business aviation, special missions/government fleets, and forward-looking commercial aviation programs that are looking to add LEO connectivity—which is proving to work very well. We are seeing great interest for this product across the industry and have announced firm orders from our lead customer, Gogo.”
ESA Technology
How does your electronically steered antenna (ESA) architecture stand out from those of Starlink or other LEO-focused competitors? Yafe explained:
“Gilat’s ESA offerings are open architecture as opposed to the vertically integrated, closed approach of some of the other offerings. Gilat is the only vendor in the market offering two distinct ESA product lines: a cost-efficient, compact LEO-only terminal (ESR-2030Ku), and a true multi-orbit solution (Sidewinder) that seamlessly combines GEO and LEO connectivity. This dual-track strategy leverages the strengths of each orbit—LEO for low latency and bandwidth density, and GEO for wide coverage and cost efficiency—enabling aircraft operators to future-proof their connectivity investments and meet diverse operational needs.”
Multi-Orbit Switching Process
Can you walk us through the multi-orbit switching process in your system and how it affects latency, user experience, and bandwidth availability? Yafe highlighted:
“Our systems are designed for intelligent, seamless switching across orbits based on network conditions, QoS policies, and user demand. This ensures optimal bandwidth utilization, minimized latency, and persistent user experience—especially in edge cases like polar routes, heavy congestion, or loss of a particular satellite beam. The actual switching decision is defined by the aviation service providers that deliver the service.”
Value In GEO Capacity
With low-latency LEO networks gaining traction, do you still see value in GEO capacity, or will the future lean fully LEO/MEO? Yafe asserted:
“Absolutely. GEO remains cost-efficient and effective in areas of concentrated high-demand (e.g. airports), for certain high-throughput routes, and for specific countries and territories that do not allow LEO services due to regulatory limitations. Our strategy is orbit-agnostic: LEO for lower-latency and coverage; GEO for specific geographies, economics and capacity density; MEO for balance. Customers shouldn’t have to choose—we let them mix and match to get the best of all worlds.”
Eutelsat OneWeb
Are you working exclusively with Eutelsat OneWeb, or are there plans to integrate with other LEO operators like Telesat or Amazon’s Project Kuiper? Yafe clarified:
“Gilat’s product strategy is open architecture. We are not exclusive to any single operator, network, or service provider. While our products are actively being deployed over Eutelsat OneWeb, we’re in technical dialogue and alignment with additional NGSO operators. Our open strategy allows us to offer best-fit solutions to each customer case.”
Vendor Ecosystem
Given that United and American are both aggressively pursuing free Wi-Fi initiatives, how does Gilat fit into the vendor ecosystem that supports such scale? Yafe elaborated:
“Our technology, especially post-Stellar Blu acquisition, positions us as an ideal hardware and network solution provider for airlines seeking scalable, cost-effective connectivity. We’re not a retail ISP; we enable our partners to deliver high-speed, free Wi-Fi sustainably and flexibly.”
Opinion About Vertically Integrated Players
What’s your view on vertically integrated players like SpaceX (Starlink) versus Gilat’s more open-architecture approach? Yafe commented:
“We see vertical integration as limiting in the long term. Airlines and operators value choice, flexibility, and multi-vendor networks. Gilat’s approach—hardware, software, and network agnostic—makes it easier to future-proof IFC investments.”
Evolution Of Gilat’s Culture
How has Gilat’s culture evolved post-acquisition to absorb the fast-paced aviation and antenna innovation DNA of Stellar Blu? Yafe described:
“We’ve embraced a more agile, iterative, and customer-driven development culture. Stellar Blu’s aviation experience has pushed Gilat to accelerate timelines and think leaner—without compromising on aerospace-grade quality and reliability.”
R&D Investments
What kind of R&D investments are you making to stay ahead in antenna innovation—especially with AI, predictive analytics, or power efficiency? Yafe outlined:
“We’re investing heavily in flat-panel ESA innovation, beam steering algorithms, AI-driven diagnostics, and power optimization. We’re also making significant investments in air worthiness and aerospace-grade certifications to increase the reliability and maintainability of our aeronautical products. Flat-Panel ESA is a transformative technology, and we are also innovating in the ways we support and maintain this technology in operational environments.”
Future Goals
What should the industry watch for next from Gilat in the mobility or next-gen connectivity space? Any upcoming partnerships or product launches? Yafe concluded:
“Watch this space—literally. We are analyzing and exploring multiple ESA products with our partners. In the near term, we will continue pushing our Ku-band ESA products further into the market. In parallel, we are expanding with SES their global maritime connectivity networks. We’re building the world’s most adaptable IFC architecture, and 2026 will be a big year for Gilat in air, land, and sea mobility.”
