Intelsat, Panasonic Team Up On In-Flight Broadband Service
Service Will Let Passengers Get Online From The Skies
By Larry Barrett -- Multichannel News, 5/6/2008 8:41:00 AM
Intelsat and Panasonic Avionics Corp. Tuesday announced a multi-year agreement to develop what both companies are calling the next generation of in-flight passenger broadband service.
The service, Panasonic eXConnect, uses an advanced satellite transmission platform to leverage Intelsat’s existing GlobalConnex network broadband service to deliver Internet-based services and entertainment to passengers.
Company officials said Panasonic will be able to introduce eXConnect in key regions around the world, “providing an efficient and cost effective means to scale the network capacity as demand grows.”
Panasonic eXConnect enables two-way broadband connectivity that provides a wide range of applications to both passengers and crew such as VPN, live television, shopping, streaming media, telemedicine, operational applications and personal devices integrated to the airline’s in-flight entertainment systems. With data rates comparable to ground public Wi-Fi hotspots, eXConnect offers airlines the opportunity to further differentiate their in-flight product with a valuable service to their passengers.
“On-demand, mobile communications continues to fuel the widespread integration of cutting-edge satellite services,” Jay Yass, Intelsat’s vice president, network services, said in a statement. “The Panasonic eXConnect platform, powered by the Intelsat system, delivers seamless broadband connectivity to passengers who seek Internet access wherever and whenever they need it, enabling them to stay connected while in flight.”
Intelsat’s GlobalConnexis available on Intelsat’s global satellite fleet of 53 in-orbit satellites, and regional teleport facilities.
