Panasonic Avionics, the in-flight engagement and connectivity (IFEC) supplier, has collaborated with Intellian Technologies, a provider of satellite communication antennas and ground gateway solutions, to develop a low Earth orbit (LEO)-only terminal system designed to connect to Eutelsat’s OneWeb LEO network.
The terminal system features Intellian’s new LEO-only aviation antenna, which seamlessly integrates the modem and controller into a design that requires no radome. The companies say the system weight is less than half that of typical multi-orbit and GEO terminals.
The Intellian User Terminal leverages advances in electronically steered array (ESA) technology, design and integration to deliver cost savings – without any sacrifice to performance, weight, or ease of installation, according to the company. Panasonic Avionics will use Intellian’s aviation antenna to deliver a fast, reliable, and future-proof connectivity experience to its airline customers, with up to 195 Mbps and less than 100 milliseconds of latency.
This terminal system joins Panasonic Avionics’ broader product portfolio, complementing its existing multi-orbit antenna system, and in line with the company’s work to provide network- and orbit-agnostic in-flight connectivity (IFC).
Intellian is known as a connectivity supplier in the land, sea and enterprise markets, and this new product marks its entry into the aviation sector. Eric Sung, CEO of Intellian Technologies, describes the work with Panasonic Avionics as “a natural and strategic extension of our portfolio”.
At launch, the terminal system will be available to Panasonic Avionics’ current and new airline customers for retrofit installations beginning in late 2026. The terminal system can be installed overnight, minimising aircraft downtime.
The modular design of the system enables easy upgrades of core components as hardware and network enhancements become available. It also enables simultaneous multi-constellation operation for airlines and can be used to supplement their existing Panasonic Avionics IFC services.
John Wade, vice president of connectivity at Panasonic Avionics, said of the launch: “Our new terminal system is a game-changer for airlines. It blends best-in-class performance with unmatched resiliency and the reliability our customers expect. I firmly believe that this blend of price point and performance specifications, unmatched by any other provider, will fundamentally change the way airlines use in-flight connectivity.”
“I expect many airlines to adopt a multi-terminal approach, and, with Panasonic Avionics, they can quickly and affordably add this terminal to any connectivity-equipped aircraft to immediately offer multi-orbit capabilities,” Wade added.
The terminal system also offers self-service control of connectivity through Panasonic Avionics’ Wi-Fi Portal Studio and Wi-Fi Reporting services. The terminal system can also be combined with Panasonic Avionics’ Wi-Fi Roaming agreements and OneMedia Advertising solutions, which can increase service adoption, reduce airline operational costs of delivering wi-fi service, and enable passenger amenities such as free IFC.
