From Left: Liu Jian, vice president at CTTIC, Captain Mary McMillan, vice president of Aviation Safety and Operational Services at Inmarsat, and Li Guobin, vice president at ADCC. Photo Credit: Inmarsat

Inmarsat has signed a contract with China Transport Telecommunication Information Group Company Limited (CTTIC) to build a local SwiftBroadband-Safety (SB-S) satellite communication operation platform in China. In addition, Inmarsat, CTTIC and Aviation Data Communication Corporation (ADCC) will jointly provide the advanced SB-S aviation safety service to the fast-growing Chinese aviation industry.

Under the partnership, Chinese airlines will now have access to a comprehensive package that integrates Inmarsat’s Classic Aero and next-generation IP-based SB-S services. This will enable them to process all their data in China and fulfil the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC)’s Airline Operations Centre (AOC) voice mandate and flight tracking requirements.

The collaboration will leverage the capabilities of CTTIC’s Beijing satellite access station, ADCC’s experience in providing flight datalink services in China and Inmarsat’s expertise in providing satellite communications services to the aviation industry.

Inmarsat’s Classic Aero service is used by more than 90 percent of the world’s oceanic aircraft for communication, navigation and surveillance. The company’s next-generation SB-S platform, which was recently introduced into commercial service, is a global, secure broadband platform for operations and safety communications, offering airlines visibility into their operations to improve operational efficiency and profitability.