
It is not 2Ku. But the new partnership between Panasonic Avionics and ThinKom definitely covers Ku, too.
The two companies announced plans to develop an updated antenna solution to fly with Panasonic’s airline customers, starting from 2023.
Panasonic is committed to delivering seamless, scalable, and future-proofed in-flight connectivity to our airline customers and their passengers. Our new antenna offering with ThinKom is an integral part of our network and will allow airlines to access both current and future satellite constellations.
– Jeff Sare, Vice President of In-Flight Connectivity Solutions at Panasonic Avionics
Shifting to the new platform is not, in any way, giving up on the existing technology according to Jeff Sare, PAC’s VP for in-flight connectivity. He points out the recent performance in China as demonstrating the high performance. At the same time, however, Sare notes, “In the spirit of innovation, we’re never satisfied to rest on our laurels and need to keep moving forward. We think this is the most straightforward way to do that, in the current environment.”
The combination of our VICTS technology and Panasonic Avionics’ experience and commitment to in-flight entertainment and connectivity provides an extremely compelling value proposition to commercial airlines, both today and in the future.
– Mark Silk, President of ThinKom Solutions, Inc.
The new antenna solution is externally similar to the version installed on more than 1500 Intelsat 2Ku aircraft today. But the Panasonic version includes updates that the companies hope deliver improved NGSO performance, among other benefits.
It also reflects the realities of a shifting in-flight connectivity landscape into the back half of the decade, as Sare, detailed for PaxEx.Aero.
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