Gilat Satellite Networks has announced that satellite service provider O3b Networks, certified Gilat's SkyEdge II meoEdge high-performance MEO/O3b satellite terminal for use over its growing constellation of satellites.

O3b successfully launched four more satellites in December 2014 to meet market demand and complement the eight that are already in orbit serving customers in Africa, the Middle East, the Pacific and Latin America.

With data rates of up to 48Mbps over the O3b constellation, Gilat's meoEdge satellite terminal - part of the SkyEdge II family of products - is especially suited for cellular backhauling, oil and gas platform connectivity and trunking applications.

Not only is meoEdge the only TDMA terminal certified for O3b, but it is also unique in its ability to switch to SCPC on the fly. The certification tests conducted by O3b verified seamless operation during handovers between satellites, with no packet loss.

"We are happy to announce the certification of the meoEdge satellite terminal, which was developed by our long-term friend and technology partner, Gilat Satellite Networks. Gilat is helping us pioneer MEO communications worldwide, especially in the Cellular Backhaul and Oil and Gas markets, where it has demonstrated particular expertise," explained John Finney, O3b's Chief Commercial Officer.

"Gilat not only supplies our only TDMA-based solution but also has the capability to be a full turnkey integrator for O3b networks when necessary. Additionally, Gilat is unique in its ability to provide hub operations services to our joint customers."

"O3b provides services in under-connected markets in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia, with a collective population of over 3 billion people," expanded Erez Antebi, Gilat's CEO.

"Being able to support O3b's MEO initiative with TDMA VSATs is a technological breakthrough. Now that the certification process is complete, customers can rest assured that meoEdge is ready to go to market and will provide a 'fiber-speed, satellite-reach' solution, according to specification."