Aircell plans to step up to LTE ultra-broadband

Aircell plans to step up to LTE ultra-broadband - Shephard Group

July 17, 2008 – AIRCELL says it will evolve the terrestrial broadband system currently being trialled by American Airlines to incorporate LTE (Long Term Evolution) technology, the ultra-broadband last stop in the present GSM roadmap.

The Colorado-based air-to-ground communications provider’s new Aircell Mobile Broadband Network (AMBN) and Gogo service for airlines are based on the EV-DO Rev A cellular standard and are designed to deliver single-figure megabits into the aircraft. LTE is intended to support downloads at speeds in the 100-200Mbit/sec range to cellular user devices on the ground.

“LTE will ensure we can support the services passengers will demand in the future, helping our airline customers to stay competitive as services become more complex and demand more bandwidth,” says Aircell chief technology officer Joe Cruz. Among the new IFE possibilities foreseen are high-definition and interactive television and multi-player immersive gaming.

Cruz expects the potential huge expansion in bandwidth to generate a whole new range of operational benefits. “Airline operations will also benefit from this 4G technology, which will support a wide array of powerful applications such as high-resolution graphical weather to the flight deck,” he says.

“The 4G market is still evolving but one thing is for sure - passengers will want the same mobile broadband services in the air that they have on the ground,” Cruz continues. “With LTE, our inflight Internet technology is future-proofed.”

Aircell plans to deploy LTE by the beginning of 2011. In the meantime, the company expects further advances in EV-DO to boost AMBN performance to up to 22Mbit/sec to the aircraft by the end of next year.

How Panasonic's X marks the spot - Runway Girl

How Panasonic's X marks the spot - Runway Girl:

"One curious reader asks: 'So, does this mean regular USB - or other non proprietary interfaces - will be supported as well? Is this another apple marketing scheme, or an honest attempt from the aviation industry to integrate personal entertainment?'

It's a good question, deserving of a worthy answer. So I asked Panasonic director, product line management Marshal Perlman to break things down for us (who loves ya, baby?).

Perlman says: 'Our IFE system supports a number of interfaces and the eXport jack only complements USB. In the case of Singapore Airlines, they offer both USB and eXport on their aircraft. This is something that we encourage all our customers to do and our system is easily able to support eXport and USB interfaces simultaneously if so desired by the airline.

'The goal of Panasonic Avionics Corporation in creating the eXport jack was to provide airlines passengers with an easy to use solution for integrating personal entertainment devices with our IFE systems. The alternative to eXport would be an 'octopus' type cable that is less than elegant. The eXport initiative launched by Panasonic Avionics Corporation's R&D team and it is just the one of the many technology advancements that Panasonic plans on introducing."

Photo from Panasonic USB Media Player data sheet.

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Jeff Kemp (Golden, CO), www.jeff-kemp.com.

Airliners Becoming Authorized iPod Accessories || The iPod Observer - Now Playing

Airliners Becoming Authorized iPod Accessories || The iPod Observer - Now Playing

"Singapore Airlines claims to be the first airline to offer passengers iPod connectivity to their inflight entertainment system (IFE), according to Flight International on Thursday. Other airlines aren't far behind.

Airbus A340-500s operating from Singapore to Newark will have the connections in all the business class seats.

A spokesperson for the carrier confirmed that SIA is the first airline to allow passengers to play music and view video content using their own iPhone or iPod through the airline's IFE system using an integrated cable."

Jeff Kemp (Golden, CO), www.jeff-kemp.com.

Panasonic Avionics Corporation To Supply Air New Zealand with X Series on A320 and B767

Panasonic Avionics Corporation To Supply Air New Zealand with X Series on A320 and B767

"Today Panasonic Avionics Corporation announced that Air New Zealand has chosen Panasonic's X Series to deliver a fresh and uniquely Kiwi experience to Air New Zealand's passengers with functionality initially including AVOD, moving map, games, iPod integration, USB media player, surveys and airline information, while providing Air New Zealand's crew and engineering staff with innovative tools to maintain the system.

LAKE FOREST, California - 12 May 2008 - Beginning August 2008, Air New Zealand passengers on board thirteen (13) A320 and five (5) B767 aircraft will experience a quantum leap improvement with Panasonic X Series in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems. This IFE system offers video and audio on demand (AVOD), games, iPod integration, and games as well as other entertainment options."

Jeff Kemp (Golden, CO), www.jeff-kemp.com.

TheMoodieReport.com | Emirates takes inflight retail to a new level – 02/12/07

TheMoodieReport.com | Emirates takes inflight retail to a new level – 02/12/07

Noting the power of Emirates’ IFE offer, Daly noted: “As a customer, you can choose from over 1,000 audio and visual channels, 100 interactive games, 300 albums and every UK number one hit from the early 1950s. Not forgetting – in the event that you can’t find anything to watch or listen to – you also have the capacity to send and receive e-mail and SMS messages.”

He linked the breadth of that offer to the boom in Internet shopping and asked what airlines were doing to tap that opportunity. “If someone had suggested even as little as ten years ago that there would be billions of dollars transacted on the web by 2007, they would probably have been laughed at. Don’t you think that it is time to take notice and consider our own position?”

Over the next 18 months Emirates plans a range of developments and experiments including a new dedicated duty free website which will be featured on the IFE system. “It will display the full range of duty free product, will be fully interactive and be presented in a clear and attractive way making it as easy for our passengers to browse product on the web as if they were flipping through the brochure,” Daly said.

Jeff Kemp (Golden, CO), www.jeff-kemp.com.

Screenshots - Emirates ICE In-flight Entertainment

In-flight Entertainment: "Friday, January 11, 2008

Screenshots - Emirates ICE In-flight Entertainment

These photos of Emirates ICE cabin entertainment system were taken in Q3 2006. We believe they are still accurate."

Also see this article: Emirates Inflight Entertainment Enjoys a Hat-Trick.






Jeff Kemp (Golden, CO), www.jeff-kemp.com.

Singapore Airlines offers iPod-friendly skies | Crave, the gadget blog - CNET

Singapore Airlines offers iPod-friendly skies | Crave, the gadget blog - CNET

A day after iPass said it would provide in-flight Wi-Fi roaming, Singapore Airlines announced that it is now offering connectivity for iPods and iPhones on its "KrisWorld" in-flight entertainment system on its Airbus A340-500 planes, according to iLounge. That means you can plug the devices into the system with a standard 30-pin connector and then watch your own video on a personal 15.4-inch widescreen LCD (there's one at each seat in the section) or listen to your playlist on its noise-cancellation headphones, which will break in to tell you when you have to shut it off, presumably.




Other airlines have offered this kind of system, such as United, but they're still relatively rare.

See the Press Release on Singapore Airline's website.

Jeff Kemp (Golden, CO), www.jeff-kemp.com.

Panasonic Avionics Corporation Licenses iDirect's Satellite IP Router Technology to Power In-Flight Broadband System

Panasonic Avionics Corporation Licenses iDirect’s Satellite IP Router Technology to Power In-Flight Broadband System

 

Herndon, Virginia and Lake Forest, California - July 8 2008 - VT iDirect, Inc. (iDirect), a subsidiary of VT Systems Inc. (VT Systems), and Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic), the world's leading supplier of in-flight entertainment (IFE) and communication systems, today announced a major technology licensing agreement. Panasonic will license iDirect’s satellite IP router technology as a core component of the Panasonic eXConnect in-flight satellite transmission platform. Panasonic eXConnect provides two-way broadband connectivity for a broad range of passenger and crew applications, including Internet access as well as live video programming, telemedicine and the ability to monitor and report critical flight information in real time. iDirect is a world leader in satellite-based IP communications technology.

 

Representing a next-generation solution, Panasonic eXConnect will overcome critical technical limitations of delivering in-flight broadband connectivity and expand airlines’ opportunities to market the service. The system features significantly lighter airborne electronics equipment, an ultra-small satellite antenna, iDirect’s highly efficient spread spectrum mobile waveform and Intelsat’s global Ku-band broadband coverage. In addition, Panasonic eXConnect leverages iDirect’s award-wining “Group Quality of Service” bandwidth management technology, which enables airlines to integrate and deliver a wide range of services beyond basic Internet access. These include live and premium in-flight entertainment services as well as voice applications and allow airlines to capture additional pay-per-use and advertising revenues.

 

By implementing iDirect’s satellite IP router technology, Panasonic is also able to reduce the operating cost and complexity of supporting in-flight broadband connectivity and offer the service for both continental and inter-continental flights.

 

The next-generation system is distinguished by:

 

-More affordable use of satellite bandwidth: Ultra-small satellite antennae on an aircraft require increased transmission powers and satellite bandwidth to maintain a reliable link while in motion. To overcome this challenge, Panasonic eXConnect will feature iDirect’s innovative spread spectrum waveform. The iDirect waveform diffuses the transmission of satellite bandwidth while maintaining a high data rate, which dramatically conserves satellite space segment and lowers bandwidth costs for airlines.

 

 

-Cost-effective network expansion: Through the iDirect satellite router, the eXConnect system leverages Intelsat’s global fleet of 53 in-orbit satellites and on-the-ground teleport facilities. Satellite carriers can be scaled to the bandwidth needs of specific geographical regions, providing a cost-effective means to meet current demand and increase network capacity as demand grows.

 

-Simplified global network management: With iDirect’s Global Network Management System, Panasonic can manage and track each satellite router from a single network management system, instead of using multiple systems typically required to manage a global, hybrid network. In addition, iDirect’s Automatic Beam Switching feature enables the antenna to automatically transfer connectivity from one satellite to the next as an aircraft travels across satellite footprints.

 

“We are proud to be working with iDirect to deliver the next-generation satellite transmission platform for eXConnect. iDirect develops world-renowned technology, leveraging Intelsat’s global satellite fleet and network infrastructure. We believe iDirect is best prepared to help Panasonic provide airlines with a satellite communication technology to reduce operating costs and improve daily operations.”

-Paul Margis

 Chief Executive Officer, Panasonic Avionics Corporation

 

“The core capabilities for in-flight broadband have existed for years, but until recently they were far too inefficient and costly for airlines to operate profitably. iDirect has developed new technologies for the satellite industry to overcome mobile broadband challenges. Today, a powerful combination of next-generation capabilities from Panasonic, Intelsat and iDirect will soon make broadband connectivity a vital new dimension of air travel.”

-David Bettinger

 Chief Technology Officer, iDirect

 

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Follow this URL to view this Press Release in your browser:

http://www.panasonic.aero/press/PressRelease-Panasonic_eXConnect_iDirect_070808.html

 

Jeff Kemp (Golden, CO), www.jeff-kemp.com.

Aircell offers terrestrial and satellite broadband for business aviation

Aircell offers terrestrial and satellite broadband for business aviation

Shephard Group's Inflight Online

Jeff Kemp (Golden, CO), www.jeff-kemp.com.