SITAONAIR is to pioneer inflight mobile services using high-speed broadband connectivity in an aviation industry first, the company has announced.

The world-leading inflight mobile service provider will deploy cutting-edge inflight 3.5G mobile network services over the high-speed broadband satellite connectivity of GX Aviation. Enhanced 3.5G capabilities will be available to all airlines through SITAONAIR’s popular Mobile ONAIR application by the end of 2017.

There is an insatiable hunger for inflight cellular connectivity, with 19 million passengers opting to connect to SITAONAIR’s inflight mobile services last year. This new technology will provide passengers and crew with high-speed, seamless connectivity, similar to the home experience.

In addition, SITAONAIR has established a wide-ranging deal with worldwide mobile operators to give passengers stress-free data bundles, simplifying billing through unlimited data usage and capped costs. It will also provide a potential opportunity for airlines to boost ancillary revenues through providing access to different revenue streams by monetizing the cellular service.

Francois-Xavier Mateo, SITAONAIR’s Head of Cabin, said: “SITAONAIR is the very first in the industry to be introducing future-proof inflight cellular technologies over GX Aviation. This announcement is a significant and exciting development for inflight mobile services.

“In 2016, an impressive 19 million airline passengers chose to connect to SITAONAIR’s inflight cellular network. By December this year, Mobile ONAIR will be delivering its enhanced broadband-based mobile experience for airline passengers.”

The future of mobile communications will continue to evolve with the rise of the Internet of Things market. By 2020 it is thought between 50-100 billion devices, including cellular based devices, will be connected to the internet. SITAONAIR, with its technology partners, is anticipating the coming revolution of the Internet of Things with its live 4G and 5G-ready mobile core network.

SITAONAIR would like to thank its chosen partners for their role in developing its solution:

• MonacoTelecom for providing a 2G, 3.5G, 4G and 5G-ready mobile core network
• Zodiac In-Flight Innovations, who will provide the next-generation airborne system
• Aricent and ip.Access, suppliers of the radio access network elements
• Axiros, who will provide, manage and troubleshoot inflight connectivity base stations using its AXESS.ACS platform.

Martin Peronnet, Monaco Telecom’s CEO, said: “Monaco Telecom is proud to contribute to SITAONAIR’s strategy helping it to build on its position as the undisputed world-leading inflight mobile service provider. Over the years we have made tremendous progress together to deliver world-class quality inflight telecommunications. The launch of SITAONAIR 3.5G mobile service using our future-proof core network infrastructure is a new major milestone in our partnership.“

Matt Smith, CEO of Zodiac In-Flight Innovations, added: “We are pleased to be partnering with SITAONAIR and providing them our proven hardware and software products including wireless streaming, GSM and now broadband (KA) as well as 3.5G connectivity systems. We look forward to a continued relationship and the first Ka-band and 3.5G installations later this year.”

For more information about Mobile ONAIR, and to discover the full SITAONAIR product and service range, visit www.sitaonair.aero