SkyFive Plans Triple-Connectivity For Business Jets, General Aviation

Air-to-ground (A2G) inflight connectivity specialist SkyFive has partnered with three companies—EchoStar Mobile, aircraft systems supplier Diehl Aviation and French wireless technology specialist Sequans—to roll out a new triple-path inflight connectivity service for European business jet and general aviation operators.

Munich-headquartered SkyFive was created through a 2019 management buyout of Nokia’s former inflight-connectivity arm. It was this part of Nokia that worked with Inmarsat and Deutsche Telecom to create the European Aviation Network (EAN), the first integrated A2G and satellite network in Europe. Since then, SkyFive has rolled out a second A2G network in Saudi Arabia and is working on a belt of interoperable A2G networks spanning from Europe to China.

On March 25, SkyFive revealed plans for “next-generation inflight connectivity,” which will initially be validated on smaller aircraft in Europe.

“For the first time ever, the new service integrates a broadband air-to-ground (A2G) network from SkyFive, a non-terrestrial network (NTN) from EchoStar Mobile, and a terrestrial 4G/5G network. This enables triple-path communication across multiple distinct data links,” SkyFive said. “We plan to have this in live operation this year.”

A2G works from land-based masts, meaning aircraft can be fitted with smaller lower-drag antennas, making it faster and cheaper than satellite-based connectivity. Working together, the three networks will provide corporate and general aviation operators with high-capacity and high-reliability Wi-Fi coverage.

“A2G and NTN are complementary technologies, based on common open standards, and supported by the vast mobile communication ecosystem,” SkyFive Chief Commercial Officer Dirk Lindemeier said.

Alongside the new network, SkyFive and Diehl are collaborating on a new lightweight A2G modem for small- to mid-sized business and general aviation aircraft. This line-replaceable unit supports all three networks and uses semiconductors from French wireless technology specialist Sequans.

SkyFive said this development will make inflight connectivity more accessible for smaller aircraft, including business jets, considerably reducing the size, weight and power consumption of the airborne equipment. The high-performance modem will also work reliably at high aircraft speeds.

“We cannot disclose the first exact aircraft type, as our local customer does not want to be public yet,” a SkyFive spokesperson told Aviation Week. “For the aircraft installation, it is either a ‘minor mod’ or a full supplemental type certification (STC), depending on the aircraft type and the full aircraft system to be installed.”

The EchoStar triple-path inflight connectivity will only be available in Europe—because of spectrum rights—but the Diehl equipment is compatible with multiple networks and frequencies, giving it potential for worldwide use.

“We are planning to use it in countries outside Europe, but will announce specific cases later, depending on country rights and airlines signed up,” the SkyFive spokesperson said. “The same modem has already been used on other networks in Australia and New Zealand in conjunction with Flightcell. We have developed this modem further, extending its capabilities to include EchoStar’s multipath connectivity. This enhanced functionality has now been integrated for the first time with Diehl in this new product.”

Beyond this, SkyFive is working on its wider A2G rollout, forming a belt of A2G networks covering “the global south,” connecting Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific and Japan (APJ) region, to China.

A2G telecoms partnerships have already been signed in Egypt, South Africa and Turkey, with Indonesia as the latest addition, but the roll-out is yet to begin in these markets. In past interviews, SkyFive detailed plans for A2G networks in Australia, China, Japan, Korea and New Zealand, as well as other undisclosed Middle East markets.

Saudi Arabian investment fund Space Communications for Information Technology Group (SCIT Group) is providing €100 million ($108 million) to support SkyFive’s Middle East deployment over the coming three years.