Mobile Connectivity

With the entry into service of the Eutelsat 172B High Throughput Satellite (HTS), which launched in June, Panasonic Avionics Corporation will now be able to deliver enhanced in-flight broadband connectivity, live television and mobile phone services to aircraft flying high traffic routes across the Asia-Pacific region spanning the West coast of North America to Asia,...

ViaSat has expanded its current relationship with authorized value-added reseller Satcom Direct to offer ViaSat’s full suite of In-Flight Connectivity (IFC) systems and services to large and mid-cabin business jets. The new agreement adds ViaSat’s latest Ka-band business jet service to Satcom Direct’s IFC portfolio, which already included ViaSat’s Ku-band IFC service. ViaSat’s business aviation...

SitaOnAir and Emirates have extended their partnership to deliver passenger connectivity solutions across Emirates’ fleet of A380 and B777 aircraft for a further four years. The news follows the recent rollout of personalized In-Flight Connectivity (IFC) for members of the airline’s loyalty program, Emirates Skywards, through SitaOnAir’s onboard Wi-Fi hub, Internet OnAir. The extended deal,...

To what extent must hardware manufacturers, service providers and others across the satellite ecosystem collaborate to ensure secure cyberspace for their customers? During a panel titled “How to Achieve End-to-End Protection?” at the 2017 CyberSat Summit, experts agreed that one of the biggest challenges in cybersecurity today is the ongoing transition to an ecosystem where...

Inmarsat has launched a program to certify third-party commercial applications for use on its SwiftBroadband-Safety (SB-S) platform. The company said its Certified Application Provider (CAP) program is open to established application providers and developers. A two-step certification process tests and optimizes applications compatible with the flight deck platform. According to Inmarsat, SB-S provides global, high-speed...

Yahsat, the United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based satellite operator, announced the successful trial of a 50Mbps in-flight connection. The result of a partnership between Yahsat, du, Etihad Airways Engineering, Hughes Network Systems and Carlisle Interconnect, the high-speed broadband offering will be available for airlines to offer its passengers within the next year. Using Yahsat’s Al Yah...

Inmarsat and Deutsche Telekom have successfully completed the first flight trials to test both the satellite and complementary ground network for their European Aviation Network (EAN) service. EAN is a dedicated aviation solution to combine space- and ground-based components to deliver high-speed in-flight broadband to airlines. According to Inmarsat, the recent flights demonstrated that EAN...

Nearly a month after Hurricane Maria decimated Puerto Rico’s already frail infrastructure, 76 percent of total cell sites still remain out of service, according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The U.S. government’s response to the situation, as well as comments made by President Trump, have been largely controversial — but organizations such as the...

Flyht Aerospace Solutions announced the sale of its Automated Flight Information Reporting System (AFIRS) and FlyhtLog services to Azur Havacilik (Azur Aviation), based in Antalya, Turkey. The contract is valued at $2.1 million, for which Flyht will provide hardware to Azur Aviation for the next five years. Flyht stated it has all of the necessary...

Philippine Airlines has tasked SITAOnAir to upgrade the airline’s existing Boeing B777 fleet equipped with Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband to Inmarsat’s GX Aviation, as well as line-fit Philippine Airlines’ new Airbus A350s and A321s. Once complete, SITAOnAir will activate its package of In-Flight Connectivity (IFC) services to offer an enhanced connected experience for passengers and cabin crews....