OneWeb gets deal to provide internet on airplanes
The competition heats up: OneWeb will partner with Panasonic Avionics — which already provides WiFi for 70 airlines — to use the satellite constellation as part of its airline service.
Adding LEO capabilities from OneWeb would enable pole-to-pole coverage with forward link speeds approaching 200 megabits per second (Mbps), according to Panasonic, and return link speeds up to 32 Mbps. Ben Griffin, OneWeb’s vice president for mobility services, said the deal enables the LEO operator to leverage Panasonic’s “reputation, expertise, and reach” to bring its network to airlines.
The agreement also paves the way for OneWeb’s services to be integrated into existing in-flight entertainment systems that Panasonic provides for aircraft.
Both OneWeb and Starlink now have deals to provide internet capabilities for airlines. The competition can only mean the cost to consumers on those planes will likely drop.
Meanwhile, India’s government commercial launch division, NSIL, is prepping a GSLV rocket to launch 36 OneWeb satellites for an October 22nd launch. This will be the first launch replacing the Russians as OneWeb’s launch provider. The launch path over the ocean (with a turn to avoid dropping debris on Sri Lanka) can be seen here.
The competition heats up: OneWeb will partner with Panasonic Avionics — which already provides WiFi for 70 airlines — to use the satellite constellation as part of its airline service.
Adding LEO capabilities from OneWeb would enable pole-to-pole coverage with forward link speeds approaching 200 megabits per second (Mbps), according to Panasonic, and return link speeds up to 32 Mbps. Ben Griffin, OneWeb’s vice president for mobility services, said the deal enables the LEO operator to leverage Panasonic’s “reputation, expertise, and reach” to bring its network to airlines.
The agreement also paves the way for OneWeb’s services to be integrated into existing in-flight entertainment systems that Panasonic provides for aircraft.
Both OneWeb and Starlink now have deals to provide internet capabilities for airlines. The competition can only mean the cost to consumers on those planes will likely drop.
Meanwhile, India’s government commercial launch division, NSIL, is prepping a GSLV rocket to launch 36 OneWeb satellites for an October 22nd launch. This will be the first launch replacing the Russians as OneWeb’s launch provider. The launch path over the ocean (with a turn to avoid dropping debris on Sri Lanka) can be seen here.