PARIS — Satellite ground antenna and terminal builder Gilat Satellite Networks said it is maintaining high R&D spending levels in 2018 to pivot its product line to very-high-throughput satellites (VHTS), the likely arrival of satellite mega-constellations in low orbit and an electronically steered ground-user antenna that will be key to the constellations’ success.
In a May 15 conference call with investors, Gilat Chief Executive Yona Ovadia acknowledged the skepticism about the mega-constellations, which up to now have launched more conference panels than satellites.