Kuiper made a splash at APEX Global Expo this year, showing up with its first customer in hand. Starlink also always grabs a lot of attention. But it was the quieter conversations away from the main floor that were, as always, most interesting.
Hybrid
Swiss, Lufthansa, Austrian set for EAN inflight internet installs
It is a move more than eight years in the making: Lufthansa Group is set to install Viasat’s European Aviation Network (EAN) inflight connectivity solution on its fleet.
Viasat, Telekom extend EAN contract
For years Viasat worked to beat the European Aviation Network, both through commercial and legal channels. Now that it owns EAN, however, the company is keen to extend and expand the offering in partnership with the terrestrial provider Deutsche Telekom.
Making the Business (Aviation) case for LEO at Gogo
“We are in active conversations in the LEO and ESA world.”
That comment from Gogo CEO Oakleigh Thorne earlier this summer kicked off significant speculation on what the next next generation (after Gogo 5G) will look like.
Intelsat plans bankruptcy exit, notes liquidation risks
Intelsat has a plan to emerge from its Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. It involves slashing debt owed by more than half, from $15 billion to $7 billion. But the debtors must agree to those losses. If not, the company faces a more dire outcome, including the likely liquidation of its recently acquired Gogo Commercial Aviation business.
Inmarsat takes EAN to the little guys
Demand for the Inmarsat EAN inflight connectivity product in the business aviation market is no surprise. And now the company is ready to deliver. The high-speed hybrid connectivity service will be availalbe to the BizAv market starting in January 2019.
Google’s "inflight wifi play" brings questions, not answers
Is Google poised to launch an inflight internet service? The company is rumored to be looking at a Nokia division to pick up the necessary hardware for such. Scratch beneath the surface, however, and more viable use cases emerge.
Allez, EAN! Approval arrives in France for Inmarsat’s newest service
Inmarsat’s European Aviation Network just received a significant regulatory boost: it is now authorized to fly in France. That was a significant geographic gap in the coverage area that is now filled. Great new particularly for British Airways with its aircraft already being fitted to launch service later this year.
Which airline is next for Inmarsat’s EAN?
Inmarsat's hybrid EAN service is on track for entry to service in 2018. Could it have a new airline customer to come along with that launch? Signs point to an interesting opportunity within the Lufthansa Group of airlines.
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Inmarsat, Deutsche Telekom complete first EAN flight tests
EAN, Europe’s newest inflight connectivity platform, took a major step forward as Inmarsat and Deutsche Telekom announce completion of the first test flight(s) of the system. The countries overflown during the tests are also interesting given some of the regulatory and legal challenges the program faces.