Thales will partner with Honeywell to bring the global broadband aircraft connectivity to the world aviation industry. The companies are working to integrate the Honeywell-developed GX Aviation Ka-band satcom avionics and antenna systems, operating over Inmarsat’s GX Aviation Ka-band satellite constellation with Thales cabin network solutions. The combined offering will give commercial airline operators and their passengers four times the in-flight connectivity bandwidth enabling real-time TV channel viewing and social media connectivity as well as virtual office functionality for video conferencing, the companies said.

“Inmarsat’s GX Aviation Ka-band satellite connectivity system is a game changer and continues our tradition of providing the commercial aerospace market with innovative, proven and reliable products," said Jack Jacobs, vice president, Honeywell. “We expect that this connectivity system will provide airlines with significantly larger bandwidth at a cost-effective price.”

The combination of state of the art satellite communications equipment and a range of highly capable aircraft networks, applications and services will provide the industry with an unparalleled opportunity.

“GX Aviation satellite constellation provides huge volumes of bandwidth and is optimized for mobile platforms which guarantee seamless satellite handover and global systems management, guaranteeing to enhance the passenger experience," said Stuart Dunleavy, Thales Avionics, vice president of Media and Connectivity.