The Satcom Direct router (SDR), due for launch in Q1 2015, is claimed by its maker, Satcom Direct International, to support the ability to bond and aggregate multiple Inmarsat SwiftBroadband streaming connections, allowing customers to achieve up to 1.6mbps of throughput. Additional benefits of acceleration, compression and caching are also claimed for the router. When available, the SDR, co-developed with Eclipse, will also support Inmarsat’s new High Data Rate (HDR) streaming services.
“The SDR allows passengers to use their laptops, tablets and smart phones onboard their aircraft,” said Chris Moore, chief commercial officer at Satcom. “With the new enhancements, higher data rate applications like video conferences and streaming video are available globally for our customers using SwiftBroadband.”
In other Satcom Direct news, the company is demonstrating GlobalVT, a connectivity technology. Formerly known as AeroV+, the system allows passengers to use voice and text functionality from their own personal smartphone number during flight at any altitude, anywhere in the world. Similar to land-based mobile connectivity, the service will be offered to clients under a monthly subscription model. The service will be available globally, mirroring that of ground based services.
“This is really turning the office-in-the-sky concept into a reality, as we can provide all our Satcom Direct Router (SDR) clients with an option to use their mobile phones in the air as they would on the ground for both incoming and outgoing voice calls and text messages,” stated Chris Moore.
“The wide variety of available smartphones and operating systems has been a challenge, especially for a company like Satcom Direct that focuses on a consistent user experience. The complexity of supporting hundreds of terrestrial-based networks has brought another dimension to our development program,” added Jim Jensen, Satcom Direct’s founder and CEO.
