Multi-orbit Connectivity Takes Off

Aviation Week Network hosted a interview with Robert Knapel, Vice President of Commercial Aviation Products at Intelsat, to explore why a multi-orbit solution delivers the best passenger experience.

Elevating the Inflight Experience with Multi-orbit Satellite Connectivity 
 

Whether it’s a short hop between nearby cities or a long-haul journey across oceans or over the poles, business and leisure airline passengers want and expect to have the same always-available, high-speed, quality connectivity in the air as they do in their homes and offices on the ground. Anything less is sure to increase frustration levels and pose a threat to an airline's reputation and business.

Until recently, airlines eager to move beyond air-to-ground systems and enhance their inflight connectivity offerings using the ubiquity of satellite had to choose among services in one satellite band or another. If the service chosen didn’t offer coverage in a particular part of the world, was slowed by congestion in popular air corridors, or was simply inoperable for any reason, the quality of the experience would be compromised.   

Intelsat, a longtime leader in helping commercial airlines around the world deliver superior inflight experiences, is now taking IFC to new heights with its multi-orbit connectivity solution.

Intelsat’s multi-orbit offering, made possible by a new electronically steered array (ESA) antenna, combines capacity from the company’s own geostationary (GEO) network with Eutelsat OneWeb’s low-Earth orbit satellites into a single solution that any commercial airline can adopt and deploy to meet and exceed the connectivity demands of discerning passengers.

Each network has strengths and limitations as it relates to breadth of coverage, speed, capacity, and latency. By offering access to both GEO and LEO satellites, Intelsat’s multi-orbit IFC solution allows airlines to leverage the inherent characteristics of each to deliver robust, uninterrupted connectivity and support web browsing, social media engagement, gaming, and streaming at 35,000 feet no matter where a plane is flying.

Already, more than 100 commercial aircraft have been outfitted and are flying with Intelsat’s ESA. Fourteen airlines across the globe, including Alaska Airlines, American, Air Canada, and Japan Airlines, have committed to installing the system on more than 1,000 additional aircraft over the next 12 months and beyond.

In addition to enhancing passenger experiences, the presence of higher-quality connectivity will enable airlines to expand their respective customer bases, deepen loyalty with frequent fliers, and unlock new monetization opportunities.  Recognizing that every airline has unique goals and business objectives, Intelsat works closely with its airline partners to design and introduce digital products, forge marketing partnerships with third parties, such as telecommunications providers, and develop a variety of free, paid, and freemium distribution models. This is key to helping airlines unlock more value and realize their IFC vision.

Interest in Intelsat’s multi-orbit connectivity continues to grow among both prospective and current airline partners. Over the next 12 months, Intelsat will continue to focus on bringing the promise of high quality, multi-orbit connectivity to its airline partners and their customers while keeping abreast of new technological developments.