Depending on who you ask – and I asked several people at at Aircraft Interiors Expo 2024 last month – ESAs are the best way forward for inflight connectivity, or a compromise that come up short for airlines.
Ka-band
Shifting install sequencing
Will airlines hit their 2025 target to replace the inflight internet services on smaller planes in North America? Probably. But the sequence and timing on those appears to be shifting a bit.
SES Open Orbits brings multi-constellation, multi-orbit Ka-band connectivity together on a global scale
SES will bring together a collective of Ka-band capacity providers under its Open Orbits program, providing a new type of competition in the global inflight connectivity market.
Viasat plans dual-modem modman for (eventual) constellation flexibility
Viasat finally has a formal plan for airlines to integrate access across its two satellite networks: A new dual-modem ModMan is coming as part of the standard install kit.
Airbus adds to HBCplus backlog
Airbus will add two additional airlines to its HBCplus inflight connectivity portfolio. The deals, announced at Aircraft Interiors Expo 2024 last week in Hamburg include a couple firsts for the program.
AJet to offer inflight internet via TCI
AJet is bringing its fleet online. The Turkish airline will add in-flight connectivity, delivered by TCI Aircraft Interiors.
Eclipse snags 50+ plane connectivity retrofit deal
Eclipse Global Connectivity will fit 50 aircraft with a multi-orbit inflight internet solution, with services delivered via SES’s multi-orbit satellite constellations.
Anuvu validates dual-panel Ka-band antenna with in-flight testing
Anuvu continues to move forward on its path to delivering a multi-orbit, inflight connectivity solution with successful in-air testing of its new dual-panel Ka-band terminal, developed in partnership with QEST.
Increased supplier option a Plus
Should airlines be concerned that the Airbus HBCplus program limits their options for inflight connectivity? Perhaps not, as reports suggest additional supplier optionality on the horizon.
Viasat goes multi-orbit for maritime with NexusWave
Multi-orbit, multi-band connectivity has come to the Viasat ecosystem. Maritime is up first, setting the stage for what the aero version might look like.