Panasonic Avionics contracts Gbps-class IFC capacity with SKY Perfect JSAT Superbird-9 Satellite

October 31, 2023 - Tokyo

SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation Representative Director, President & Chief Executive Officer: Eiichi Yonekura; “SKY Perfect JSAT”) announced today the execution of a multi-year agreement with Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Head Office: Irvine, CA, Chief Executive Officer: Ken Sain, “Panasonic Avionics”), the world’s leading supplier of in-flight entertainment and communication systems, to provide Gbps-class Ku-band capacity on Superbird-9, a software-defined high throughput satellite. This milestone agreement will contribute to Panasonic Avionics’ strategic expansion plans to deliver higher-speed internet connections and enhance in-flight experiences for airline passengers over Japan.

 Superbird-9 is a next-generation satellite which will have the largest capacity in the history of SKY Perfect JSAT satellites. Based on Airbus' OneSat satellite system and its fully digital, highly flexible payload, Superbird-9 will be capable of reconfiguring its service area, capacity and frequency while in orbit to meet the demands of the evolving market, for example, by effectively allocating capacity between congested and non-congested areas in response to the needs of aeronautical customers.

Service on Superbird-9 is scheduled to start in the first half of 2027. By securing this pre-launch commitment, SKY Perfect JSAT is poised to offer the high-capacity service on Superbird-9 at the earliest possible timing. Until then, capacity for Panasonic Avionics will be increased in phases, with other satellites.

John Wade, Vice President of Panasonic Avionics’ In-flight Connectivity Business Unit, said: “For the past year, Panasonic Avionics has made significant investments in the worldwide coverage and capacity of our global service satellite network. As we continue to see exponential growth in the adoption of in-fight connectivity in Japan, across Asia and around the world, one thing is clear. Passengers want faster internet speeds for traditional services. They also increasingly demand access to emerging in-flight connectivity applications like streaming content, playing games in flight, and using collaborative cloud-based applications. This significant investment with SKY Perfect JSAT is the latest example of our commitment to a standard-setting global connectivity network and our efforts to exceed the growing demand for these kinds of enhanced in-flight experiences.”

Yutaka Moriai, Executive Officer, Group President of SKY Perfect JSAT’s Global Business Group, said: “We are building on our long-standing partnership with Panasonic Avionics, and it is our joint commitment to elevate the in-flight experience and to deliver market-leading connectivity to passengers. With the introduction of the cutting-edge Superbird-9 satellite to Panasonic Avionics, we will continue to deliver forward-looking solutions together.”