Key to Starlink’s expansion in to the maritime and aviation mobility markets is the ability to deliver service off-shore. And in less than a year the company expects to have enough in orbit to be able to deliver coverage anywhere on earth.
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Slowing their ESA roll
Electronically steered antennae (ESAs) are coming to commercial and business aviation. But not everyone is in a hurry to get there. Two companies with ESA products on their roadmap took a step back focusing on existing, proven technology platforms instead.
Telekom FlyNet app eases in-flight connectivity for Lufthansa passengers
Deutsche Telekom continues to smooth the process for buying WiFi on board. The company launched the FlyNet application, in partnership with Lufthansa, to help customers connect across any of the airline’s flights, regardless of the underlying internet service provider. And there’s a lot more to come.
In-flight connectivity’s next major hurdle: Smaller planes
More than a thousand larger regional jets fly across North America. All of them deliver a sub-par inflight WiFi experience. But that could soon change, as multiple airlines move to upgrade the systems on board over the next few years.
Starlink Scuttlebutt: Skepticism and Support
Nearly every conversation about in-flight connectivity at Aircraft Interiors Expo 2022 in Hamburg this week includes mention of the SpaceX Starlink offering. Company executives are wandering the show floor carrying an antenna panel that they hope will soon be certified to fly, while airlines and competitors alike debate the unique path the company has chosen for nearly every facet of the offering.
DFP: The Next Generation
With a growing fleet of aircraft equipped and on-board features deployed, the Delta Flight Products (DFP) inflight entertainment platform is a mature and reliable solution for the airline’s needs. The next generation of that system, now under development, will open a number of new opportunities, both for and beyond the Delta Air Lines fleet.
ThinKom targets regional jets with smaller antenna solution
ThinKom’s ThinAir family now has a new kid brother. The company formally launched the ThinAir Ka1717 offering this week, offering a smaller, lighter solution targeting the regional jet market.
Revising the launch timeline
With SpaceX and ISRO contracts signed, OneWeb will soon be ready to resume launches of its low earth orbit satellites. And, while some connectivity services are already available, details on timing for completing the constellation have remained scant.
Wizz Air expands fflya connectivity commitment
Wizz Air will fit its UK fleet with satellite-based internet access. The carrier plans to expand its trial of the fflya product from AS-IP Tech to 19 aircraft according to a recent regulatory filing.
Stellar Blu successfully demonstrates in-flight LEO connectivity
Stellar Blu and OneWeb can finally say broadband in-flight connectivity, delivered to a commercial aircraft via low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites and an electrically steered antenna (ESA) is a reality.