This newest agreement follows a previous June 2012 contract Panasonic signed for Telstar 11N capacity over the North Atlantic and is a significant pre-launch sale for Telesat’s new Anik G1 satellite. According to the agreement, Panasonic will combine Telestar 11N capacity with the South American coverage of the Anik F1, aiming to expand its aeronautical broadband service over Latin America. Panasonic will transition from Anik F1 to Telesat’s new Anik G1 satellite when it begins commercial service, scheduled for an early 2013 launch.

“Bringing aeronautical broadband to a vast new market like Latin America requires significant investment to capitalize on the region’s growth potential,” Panasonic Global Communications Services Vice President David Bruner said in a statement. “Telesat offered a highly efficient solution for Panasonic’s Latin American expansion that will enable us to deliver unmatched service quality to our customers while managing implementation costs. The combination of Telstar 11N and Anik F1/G1 capacity over Latin America is a winning one for Panasonic that helps position us for success in this region.”