Inmarsat chooses Thales for EU aviation network infrastructure

Inmarsat has signed an agreement with Thales to develop and manufacture a Complementary Ground Component (CGC) terminal for its European Aviation Network (EAN) high-speed in-flight connectivity solution.

Inmarsat said the agreement marks a key milestone for EAN, which was unveiled by the company last year as the first aviation passenger connectivity solution across European airspace to integrate an advanced satellite network and LTE-based ground network, the latter to be operated by Deutsche Telekom.

Aircraft will be able to switch automatically between satellite and terrestrial connectivity using an onboard network communicator for optimal service delivery.

Airlines will then be able to offer reliable, high-speed onboard internet access to passengers across Europe’s high-traffic flight paths, utilising Inmarsat’s 30 MHz (2x15 MHz) S-band spectrum allocation in all 28 EU member states.

Thales, a French multinational company that designs and builds electrical systems and provides services for the aerospace, defence, transportation and security markets, has already commenced development of the CGC terminal, which will be fitted onto aircraft to provide a crucial link with the LTE-based ground network.

“The development of Inmarsat’s European Aviation Network will continue at full pace this year, bringing airlines and their passengers a step closer to unprecedented levels of in-flight connectivity, rivalling the standards that have previously only been available on the ground,” said Leo Mondale, president of Inmarsat Aviation.

“Thales Alenia Space expects to complete the production of our S-band satellite for EAN in the second half of 2016, and our other European partners, including Deutsche Telekom, Cobham SATCOM, OTE and now Thales, are also making great progress with other important components in this ambitious project.”

Development work is scheduled for completion in March 2017, prior to system trials and formal entry into service in the same year.

Image courtesy of Inmarsat.