Panasonic Avionics plans a 50% growth in its GEO satellite network capacity. Alas, the company won’t really share any details beyond that, which raises additional questions.
Geosynchronous Earth Orbit
Eutelsat 10B enters service
Inflight and maritime connectivity secured a boost in capacity from the North Atlantic to the Indian Ocean this week as Eutelsat 10B entered service.
Testing the next step for LEO-based IFC
On Monday afternoon a CRJ700 landed at Rocky Mountain Metro Airport near Broomfield, Colorado after more than four hours en route from Portland, Maine. Fortunately, no passengers found themselves enduring the “comfort” of that long ride in a little jet. But, thanks to the work happening on board, millions of travelers annually will soon have access to a better inflight Wi-Fi experience.
ThinKom Plus launches, with hybrid LEO/GEO offering
After teasing the details a bit in March, ThinKom formally launched its ThinAir Plus product line at Aircraft Interiors Expo 2023, integrating an ESA into the footprint of its Ka2517 solution. The system touts multi-constellation, multi-orbit, multi-beam connectivity support. The ThinAir Plus terminal is also the first to offer concurrent, multi-band connectivity in a single package.
ViaSat-3 Americas launches successfully
The first ViaSat-3 satellite successfully launched from Cape Canaveral on Sunday night, beginning its short ride to geostationary orbit where it will open the next generation of satellite communications, including the inflight market.
ThinKom sees ESA integration as a Plus for connectivity hardware
Looking to combine the best-in-class antenna performance with an electronically steered solution for multi-constellation support? ThinKom may soon have a new “Plus” option available.
Intelsat adds more LEO/GEO capacity with Eutelsat/OneWeb deal
Intelsat will expand its partnership with Eutelsat and OneWeb, securing additional capacity for its mobile connectivity solutions over Europe, the Middle East, and the Pacific.
Intelsat successfully tests Stellar Blu ESA in LEO/GEO service
Looking for the future of regional jet inflight connectivity? The seas off Puerto Rico this past month were a good place to start. That’s where Intelsat just spent four weeks testing the Stellar Blu ESA connected to LEO and GEO satellites.
Market optimism, antenna debates as the first regional jets get a Wi-Fi upgrade
Major optimism from suppliers as the first regional jet WiFi upgrades are set for installation. But there’s still lots of debate as to which solution is technically best for the regional jet market and beyond.
Alaska Airlines picks Intelsat for E175 streaming WiFi upgrade
Alaska Airlines will offer “streaming fast” Wi-Fi on its E175 fleet, beginning in 2024. The carrier plans to upgrade those aircraft, extending its longstanding partnership with Intelsat.