OneWeb, Satcom Direct, QEST team for BizAv internet offering

Satcom Direct will soon offer broadband connectivity for its business aviation customers on the OneWeb low earth orbit (LEO) network. The companies announced a partnership, including QEST for antenna hardware, at EBACE 2022 in Geneva.

SD brings a stellar reputation as a distribution partner for OneWeb, with its maturity in the market and solid heritage around the world.  SD supports the largest number of business aviation platforms globally and regularly ranks top in customer service industry surveys. This makes it an obvious partner for OneWeb as we set out to deliver robust, high-speed, low latency reliable and global connectivity for all aircraft.

– Neil Masterson, OneWeb CEO

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The collaboration is to progress development of an Electronic Phased Array antenna to support OneWeb’s advancing mobility services. The agreement also covers a long-term distribution partner agreement where SD will market and sell OneWeb’s high-speed, low latency inflight broadband services.  Development has already begun on the flat-panel antenna with initial demonstrator technology scheduled to validate over-the-air performance, in small form factor across the OneWeb satellite constellation in Q4 2022.

“Having worked closely with SD to develop the first of the Plane Simple antennas we recognize that there is a large sector of the market that still needs powerful connectivity that guarantees excellent performance and optimal use of the satellite services,” says Dr Jörg Oppenländer, CEO of QEST Antenna Technology GmbH. “The impressive SD global customer service offering, combined with the strength of the OneWeb constellation, and our experience of developing reliable, highly advanced, antenna systems, will provide customers with ultimate connectivity efficiencies,” Oppenländer adds.

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QEST is already partnering with SD in developing the Plane Simple tail-mount antenna series, including a Ku-band solution on the Intelsat network and a Ka-band version targeting Inmarsat’s Jet ConneX platform. The initial Plane Simple arrived on schedule.  The electronic phased array antenna represents the third antenna in the SD Plane Simple antenna series.

This is the second distribution partnership agreement for OneWeb at EBACE this year, following on news that Gogo will offer a LEO add-on for its business aviation customers for global service. The two deals are part of what OneWeb VP Mobility Ben Griffin describes as a “firm footstep forward towards where we want to be.”

OneWeb’s entry into the aviation market is not a timid, cautious approach. The multiple announcements with leading distributors in the business aviation segment are a big statement, especially given the timing of the product launch and expectations of delivering the first global coverage footprint in LEO to the industry. And with more announcements for the commercial aviation segment expected at Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg next month, OneWeb is, by all measures, just getting started.

More from Satcom Direct:

• Satcom Direct connects with new Jet ConneX terminal
• FlexExec rebounds with new terminal from Satcom Direct
• Plane Simple BizAv antenna launches from Satcom Direct, QEST

More news from EBACE 2022

• Gogo, OneWeb team for BizAv satellite service
• Inmarsat SwiftJet boosts BizAv bandwidth
• Astronics, LG grow OLED display partnership
• OneWeb, Satcom Direct, QEST team for BizAv internet offering
• The "Evolution" of Jet ConneX delivers more for passengers
• In-flight connectivity’s next major hurdle: Smaller planes