As Telesat starts deploying physical infrastructure for its Lightspeed Ka-band Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network, Airbus reveals it is fielding interest for its linefit, supplier-furnished HBCplus flex inflight connectivity solution which can support geostationary (GEO) satcom and Lightspeed LEO.

Last month, Telesat commissioned its first European gateway for Lightspeed in the French community of Bercenay-en-Othe. The Canadian satellite operator in December will launch two pathfinder satellites on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, followed by a cadence of satellite launches in 2027 to offer global coverage, including over the poles, in Q1 2028.

“The HBCplus flex antenna — our current antenna offer — is the first GEO/LEO integrated solution and is currently generating interest among customers,” Airbus told Runway Girl Network after management highlighted how GEO and LEO connectivity are complementary during a media briefing to discuss the airframer’s Global Services Forecast (GCF).

That’s good news for Hughes Network Systems, a managed service provider in the Ka-band under the HBCplus program, as well as TCI Aircraft Interiors, which has inked an MoU with Airbus to become an MSP. Each firm has a roadmap for providing access to Lightspeed LEO as part of their multi-orbit service offerings (and both are partners in the aftermarket.)

SES is also an MSP on the HBCplus program. Today, it powers IFC for HBCplus customers via Open Orbits, its hybrid Ka-band network which comprises GEO and O3b mPOWER Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites.

“The capabilities recorded are very good, with a bandwidth of around 300 Mbps, making it a top-ranking solution among the antennas available on the market today,” Airbus says of the current GEO/MEO-powered IFC service now flying.

But given that the same HBCplus flex terminal can facilitate Lightspeed LEO when the service comes online, and indeed can ably support the gigabit-per-second link speeds that Lightspeed will enable, some industry observers wonder whether SES will in time ink a Lightspeed capacity deal with Telesat.

Based on ThinKom Solutions’ popular Ka2517 VICTS mechanically steered phased array antenna, and integrated by RAVE Aerospace, Airbus’ HBCplus flex terminal is agnostic. For Airbus, that was a key factor in its decision to use the antenna for its supplier-furnished program, as HBCplus uncouples IFC hardware from the connectivity service, enabling airlines to switch MSPs without changing the hardware.

Ka2517 gives airlines what ThinKom chairman and CTO Bill Milroy calls “commercial optionality, meaning you’re not at the mercy of somebody; you’re not 30 days away from having your pricing double.”

Lightspeed has been hotly anticipated in aero for many years. So, it’s wise for Airbus to have a here-and-now option for airlines to integrate Lightspeed as soon as it’s available.

Airbus has also put the wheels in motion to support Amazon Leo installations via its linefit, supplier-furnished ecosystem. Its new HBCplus modular option, which was outlined at this year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo, will be able to support multiple antennas in multiple bands, if required.

With availability of HBCplus modular planned for 2028, its capabilities have not yet been confirmed, Airbus tells RGN, and hardware has not yet been flight tested.

“One of the main prerequisites is obviously the entry into service of the Amazon Leo constellation which is targeted to be the first service available through HBCplus modular,” the airframer says. Amazon Leo counts JetBlue and Delta, both Airbus operators, as customers, and is eyeing a regionally-focused 2027 debut in aviation.

One might see Lightspeed as advantaged within the program, however, insofar as it works via both Airbus’ current HBCplus flex and future HBCplus modular kit.

Both Ka-band LEO-powered IFC services are expected to provide fresh and welcome competition to SpaceX’s Starlink inflight connectivity service.

A juggernaut in aviation, Starlink is now contracted for roughly 12,000 aircraft, SpaceX president and chief operating officer Gwynne Shotwell revealed during the firm’s third quarter earnings conference call.

SpaceX has quadrupled the aviation production rate since the beginning of the year, and the aerospace giant expects to double the rate before the end of the year to keep pace with demand. Lufthansa, SWISS, Copa Airlines, Korean Air, Austrian Airlines, and Asiana Airlines flew their first Starlink-equipped aircraft during the third quarter, she said.

There are some notable holdouts, including Delta, whose CEO Ed Bastian told CNBC on October 9 that, while the U.S. major found the Starlink IFC service to be “fabulous” when it gave SpaceX some planes to facilitate testing several years ago, “they just weren’t ready to scale when we were ready to go and we had disagreements on the business model in terms of access to the customer and various other things that I won’t get into any details.”

Geopolitical considerations could also color some operators’ decisions, with satcom sovereignty in the spotlight.

Related Articles:

• Digital & Connectivity underpin Airbus Global Services Forecast
• Telesat restores commercial Lightspeed capacity with more satellites
• Starlink aims to be first U.S. major with Starlink fleet-wide
• How Airbus is working to facilitate Delta Air Lines’ IFC vision
• American, KLM and RAM ink new Starlink deals; Amtrak begins trial
• China coverage gap of note as Korean Air and Asiana offer Starlink

Featured image credited to Airbus