Mechanical systems have their limitations, writes Tracy Trent, President, Gilat Stellar Blu, but electronically steered antennas are key to in-flight connectivity
Not long ago, high-speed Internet access in the air was seen as a premium offering. Today, passengers expect to stream, scroll, work, and video chat at 30,000 feet just as they do on the ground. For airlines, that shift means more than just offering Wi-Fi—it requires delivering consistent, high-performance connectivity across entire fleets.
This evolution in passenger expectations is reshaping the in-flight connectivity (IFC) landscape. Data-heavy applications like video conferencing and streaming are now the norm, and passengers expect them to work seamlessly, from take-off to landing. The pressure is on IFC providers to meet those expectations without sacrificing reliability or inflating operational costs.
At the centre of this transformation is a new generation of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations. These systems offer low latency, global coverage, and the ability to support high data volumes. But they also bring technical challenges: satellites in LEO move fast, and keeping a steady connection with them requires antennas that can track and switch beams almost instantaneously.
Legacy antennas, which rely on mechanical steering, are increasingly unable to keep up.
Limitations of mechanical systems
Conventional antennas use motors and gears to physically rotate and tilt, tracking satellites in the sky. This setup works well with geostationary satellites, which remain fixed relative to the Earth’s surface. But LEO satellites are constantly in motion, each visible to an antenna for just a few minutes before another takes its place.
Supporting uninterrupted service on LEO networks requires an antenna to hand off signals in milliseconds. Mechanical systems, with their inherent latency and moving parts, can’t match this pace. That can lead to dropped connections and degraded performance—something today’s passengers notice immediately.
Mechanical antennas also come with increased maintenance needs. Moving parts wear out, adding to airline downtime and operational complexity. For fleets trying to maximise uptime while delivering consistent service, this is a growing concern.
Enter Electronically Steered Antennas
Electronically Steered Antennas (ESAs) offer a different approach. Instead of relying on motors, ESAs use arrays of small, electronically controlled elements to steer the antenna’s beam. By adjusting the phase and amplitude of signals at each element, ESAs can instantly shift their focus from one satellite to another—without any mechanical movement.
This gives ESAs several advantages in an aviation environment:
- Speed and precision: ESAs can perform near-instantaneous beam switching, ideal for tracking fast-moving LEO satellites
- Higher reliability: with no moving parts, ESAs reduce maintenance needs and increase operational uptime
- Aerodynamic design: their flat, low-profile form factors reduce drag, contributing to improved fuel efficiency
- Multi-orbit support: advanced ESAs can operate across multiple satellite orbits, enabling hybrid architectures that combine the strengths of LEO and geostationary systems
These features make ESAs especially well-suited for IFC applications. They support the kind of seamless, gate-to-gate connectivity that passengers now expect—and airlines are under pressure to deliver.
Enabling the new connectivity ecosystem
The move toward ESAs is also influencing how satellite operators and service providers design their networks. Ground terminals that can keep up with LEO dynamics enable more efficient constellations and more flexible service models.
This trend is about more than just commercial aviation. Trains, ships, emergency response vehicles, and even unmanned systems all face similar mobility challenges. ESAs unlock the ability to stay reliably connected while on the move, opening new opportunities in sectors where connectivity has traditionally been limited.
In this sense, ESAs are more than just a technological upgrade. They are a foundational enabler of a new kind of network—one built to support high-speed, high-reliability communication for users in motion.
Looking ahead
ESA technology is maturing fast. Costs are coming down, manufacturing techniques are improving, and integration with aircraft systems is becoming more streamlined. As adoption expands, the technology will continue to evolve, supporting higher data rates, wider coverage, and even smaller form factors.
For airlines, this means that high-performance, always-on connectivity is no longer a future goal—it’s an immediate possibility. And as connectivity becomes part of the core in-flight experience, ESA technology will become an essential part of fleet planning and passenger engagement strategies.
But perhaps the broader implication is this: the boundary between ground and sky is dissolving. As people move through the world—across borders, oceans, and time zones—they expect to remain continuously connected. ESAs make that possible, not just in the air, but across the entire spectrum of connected mobility.
Leveraging decades of leadership experience in technology, innovation, and business growth, Tracy Trent was previously the CEO of Stellar Blu Solutions, where he successfully guided the company until its acquisition by Gilat Satellite Networks.
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