Inmarsat and Kymeta Partner to Launch
Game-Changing Business Aviation
Broadband Solution
5 March 2013
Inmarsat
and Kymeta have signed an agreement to
develop a revolutionary satellite
antenna – enabling business jets of any
size to access high-speed broadband
connectivity globally through Inmarsat’s
industry-transforming Global Xpress (GX)
service. The advanced and proprietary
Kymeta Aero Antenna will only be
available to GX users and opens up new
opportunities for the two companies in
the rapidly expanding business aviation
market.
The Kymeta Aero
Antenna will be developed as a light-weight,
flat-panel device, and will deliver a new
level of broadband speeds, data rates and
bandwidth not previously enjoyed by business
jet customers, which will be akin to the
service they receive at home or in the
office.
Leo Mondale,
managing director of Inmarsat Global Xpress,
explained: “Over the coming 10 years, some
10,000 new business jets are forecast to
enter service. In this changing world, where
enhancing the productivity and effectiveness
of the business executive is paramount, the
need to offer constant connectivity is
non-negotiable. It is this absolute
requirement to keep executives connected,
wherever they are, that is driving demand
for solutions which support smaller
aircraft. Our partnership with satellite
technology specialist Kymeta will make
business jet travel an even smarter and more
efficient option for executives.”
“Our technology for flat-panel,
beam-forming antennas will enable a number
of new markets and a new generation of
customers to benefit from lower-cost,
high-speed satellite Internet connectivity
anywhere in the world,” said Vern
Fotheringham, CEO of Kymeta. “We are excited
to reach this milestone and engage with
Inmarsat to bring next-generation broadband
services into the global business aviation
market.”
Jack Jacobs, vice president of marketing
and product management at Honeywell, said:
“Honeywell prides itself on advanced
technology and innovation and is pleased to
support this research endeavour. We are
continuously looking to help deliver the
most efficient and affordable connectivity
products to the industry.” This complements
the landmark agreement between Inmarsat &
Honeywell announced in April 2012 for GX
Aviation Terminals.
The agreement with Kymeta highlights
Inmarsat’s continuing commitment to driving
technological innovation on behalf of its
partners and their aviation customers, and
supports the company’s billion-dollar-plus
infrastructure investment in its new GX
constellation. For Kymeta, the deal opens up
major opportunities to link its advanced
antennas with the world’s first global
Ka-band network.
