Global Eagle Entertainment (GEE) has announced that it is jointly designing a new inflight connectivity antenna with QEST Quantenelektronische Systeme GmbH, a developer of high-performance antenna systems. The partners claim that the new global antenna will provide airlines with high-speed inflight connectivity that will operate reliably at all latitudes, including equatorial regions, where Ku and/or Ku High Throughput Satellite (Ku HTS) coverage is available.
The global GEE-QEST antenna, with availability scheduled for mid-2016, will be optimized for use with upcoming Ku-band HTS systems, designed to offer airlines a breakthrough mix of reliability, high connection speeds and global coverage. The antenna will also be fully compatible with existing Ku-band satellite systems. The global Ku-band antenna will use a steerable pointing system to optimize coverage anywhere a commercial aircraft flies. The antenna will be compatible with GEE’s current installation architecture and Supplemental Type Certificates (STC), and is also intended to meet the requirements for future line-fit installations.
Aditya Chatterjee, SVP of connectivity systems and CTO at GEE stated, “Through our joint development with QEST, we will provide airlines with the most advanced, high-speed connectivity technology and service in all latitudes where Ku and Ku HTS are available.”
Dr Jörg Oppenländer, CTO at QEST added, “With our design expertise in high-performance antenna systems, we will provide GEE and its customers with a technology solution that provides global coverage, takes full advantage of the high-speed performance capabilities of upcoming Ku HTS satellite systems, and is fully compatible with the current generation of satellites.”