SES and ThinKom received approval this week from the FCC to conduct terrestrial testing of the Ka2517 terminal against the O3b constellation, joining a similar approval issued for testing against SES-17 in July. And there’s more to follow.
O3b mPOWER
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.
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.
SES snags Intelsat for $3.1 billion
SES will acquire Intelsat in a $3.1 billion transaction, continuing the consolidation trend in the satellite provider space. Not surprisingly, the mobility segment plays a significant role in driving the value of the deal.
SES plans mPOWER constellation expansion to counter performance problems
The SES mPOWER constellation will grow by two satellites to offset shortcomings on the initial six.
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.
Successful launch for SES-17, boosting in-flight wifi coverage, capacity
The SES-17 satellite successfully launched into space onboard an Ariane 5 launcher operated by Arianespace. It is expected to enter service in mid-2022.
Viasat phased array antenna moves into final testing phase for O3b integration
The Viasat Ka-band solid-state, fully-electronic phased array flat panel antenna is ready to begin the final stages of testing on the SES O3b mPOWER constellation. The system entered the Test Readiness Review (TRR) stage of the program. TRR is the final stage of testing to verify compliance with the antenna’s performance requirements.
Live from the CRJ550: PaxEx Update 25 Oct 2019
United’s newest aircraft type takes flight this week and the CRJ550 interior really is as special as the company has been hyping. Airbus orders and Boeing delays plus some fancy new wifi and upgraded airports on the horizon. Another busy PaxEx week.
Hawaiian pushes off inflight WiFi decision
Hawaiian Airlines will add inflight wifi to its fleet. Eventually. But not particularly soon. CEO Peter Ingram does not believe the technology is sufficiently mature to serve his airline’s customers, but has he missed out on viable solutions already on the market?