Satellite operator SES has announced that it has reached agreements-in-principle with several regional satellite network operators, enabling the company to launch the SES Open Orbits inflight connectivity (IFC) network, delivering seamless connectivity services to airlines around the world.
SES says this fully interoperable Ka-band platform will combine the geostationary earth orbit (GEO) and medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite networks of SES; NEO Space Group (NSG), a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF); AeroSat Link (ASL), a subsidiary of China Satcom; and Hughes Communications India (HCI).
The network is intended to enable satellite operators with regional satellite coverage to participate in a worldwide IFC service offering to airlines. SES Open Orbits will support an open architecture network where traffic can be intelligently steered from one interoperable Ka-band network to another for a seamless connected airline passenger experience across the satellites of multiple parties.
The global inflight connectivity network will use multi-orbit and multi-waveform capacity offered by regional connectivity service partners and SES to deliver resilient services, such as video, data, and communications offerings, claimed to be of a comparable quality to those offered on the ground.
As SES is a Managed Service Provider (MSP) of Airbus’s HBCplus programme, the SES Open Orbits network will also be accessible through SES to airlines who are part of that programme. SES, through Safran Passenger Innovations, is also working on offering SES Open Orbits on Boeing aircraft through the Boeing TSA process.
“By spearheading the creation of SES Open Orbits using an open architecture that supports multiple orbits and multiple waveforms, SES is enabling more satellite operators and inflight service providers to participate in the global market for inflight connectivity,” said Elias Zaccack, global head of aviation for SES. “SES Open Orbits is the future of inflight connectivity – the solution airlines must have to differentiate and future-proof their IFC services. It will allow airlines to roam seamlessly across multiple satellites and orbits to deliver the best quality inflight connectivity services.”
Philippe Carette, head of the aerospace segment at programme partner PIF added, “NSG is excited to be among the first global partners to join the SES Open Orbits inflight connectivity network. Through the combination of our satellite network across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East and SES Open Orbits, we are setting new expectations across the inflight connectivity market, delivering a superior performance that goes well above and beyond traditional industry standards.”
Shivaji Chatterjee, CEO, president and MD of HCI, added, “Our high-throughput network on GSAT-20 satellite over India will launch soon and will play a key role in the global SES Open Orbits aero network. We will also bring our deep experience in providing end-to-end connectivity services in multiple verticals to our partnership with SES to help ensure the best possible passenger experience to airlines using this exciting, first-of-its-kind inflight connectivity network.”
