Q&A Starling Photo courtesy of Starling. Mobile connectivity Starling Advanced Communications is a leading innovator in the field of mobile connectivity, enabling air and land travellers to experience rich content with the option of enjoying their own Internet-connected devices. Their advanced antenna systems are the enabler for ef ficient broadband connectivity on the move. Jacob Keret, Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Starling spoke to Helen Jameson about their antenna technology and the company activities. Question: Can you please give us some background information on Starling for the benefit of our readers? Jacob Keret: Starling started out initially by concentrating on airborne connectivity. The company was established in 2003 about 6 years ago - with a mission to provide an antenna system to enable broadband connectivity into and from aircraft. Initially, we were providing Connexion by Boeing with a much lighter antenna with more power. Then, we began to develop the MIJET antenna, which has subsequently grown into a family of antennas to suit different platforms such as wide-bodied and narrow-bodied jets and also smaller aircraft. The Starling technology - the Coherent Multi Panel (CoMPA) technology - enables us to put the low-profile, lightweight antenna on top of the aircraft and to provide real broadband connectivity. After finishing this development about one and a half years ago, and completing the flight test of the MIJET and other qualification tests, we then began thinking about communications-on-the-move for vehicles on the ground. We used the same components and the same technology enabling a high speed, low profile, easy to install antenna. We have about 40 employees at Starling. Most of those are engineers and technicians with hundreds of years of experience. Our staff are mature and experienced. We already have orders for airborne antennas as well as for the new StarCar antenna. We are working on a purchase order from customers in the US and in China. The company has expanded considerably since we started out. The offering of the company was extended and now we have an antenna 38 w w w.satellite-evolution.com | March/April 2009 starling.p65 38 13/03/2009, 17:08