Satcom Direct, OneWeb, QEST antenna collab
May 25, 2022
Satcom Direct, the business aviation solutions provider, announced at EBACE 2022, a new three-way partnership agreement with OneWeb, the global communications company powered from space, and QEST, a player in aeronautical antennas.
The collaboration is to progress development of an Electronic Phased Array antenna to support OneWeb’s advancing mobility services. The agreement also covers a long-term distribution partner agreement where SD will market and sell OneWeb’s high-speed, low latency inflight broadband services. Development has already begun on the flat-panel antenna with initial demonstrator technology scheduled to validate over-the-air performance, in small form factor across the OneWeb satellite constellation in Q4 2022.
Designed for smaller aircraft the lightweight, low profile, modular antenna will deliver high-speed, broadband connectivity to this aircraft category. Together SD, OneWeb and QEST aim ti enable passengers and operators to be more productive and enjoy more leisure time during flight via global broadband connectivity.
Market introduction of the flat panel, fuselage mounted, electronic phased array antenna is anticipated for availability in 2024, with OneWeb aviation services set to launch in 2023.
Neil Masterson, CEO at OneWeb, said: “At OneWeb, we partner with specialists to bring our reliable, high-speed and low latency connectivity to those industries that need to be connected, no matter where they are in the world. That’s why we are delighted to partner with connectivity market leader Satcom Direct, and innovative hardware manufacturer QEST, because together we look forward to transforming the connectivity landscape for business aviation. SD brings a stellar reputation as a distribution partner for OneWeb, with its maturity in the market and solid heritage around the world.”
“Connectivity supports much more than just communications and we are investing in antenna development through our Plane Simple programme, to deliver secure, flexible, reliable solutions to a wider segment of the business and government aviation communities than ever before. This is a truly ground-breaking collaboration which is setting out to bring OneWeb’s powerful connectivity to a much-underserved sector of our business aviation community. We are proud to be part of such an innovative, and dynamic group of companies, that will change the way in which small jets, and general aviation operators connect with the world,” added Jim Jensen, CEO Satcom Direct.
“Having worked closely with SD to develop the first of the Plane Simple antennas we recognize that there is a large sector of the market that still needs powerful connectivity that guarantees excellent performance and optimal use of the satellite services,” said Dr Jörg Oppenländer, CEO of QEST Antenna Technology. The impressive SD global customer service offering, combined with the strength of the OneWeb constellation, and our experience of developing reliable, highly advanced, antenna systems, will provide customers with ultimate connectivity efficiencies.”