Passengers Truly Love LEO

In the past few years, satellite and terrestrial high-speed connectivity technologies have advanced at a rate that would make Moore’s Law envious. But that doesn’t mean every user’s in-flight experience is as good as they expect. Too often, network performance is severely degraded to the point that the passengers become disconnected.  

Thanks to Eutelsat’s OneWeb network, a low Earth orbit satellite constellation with global services, today, flight crews and passengers can enjoy a greatly enhanced in-flight connectivity experience – with high-speed, low-latency connectivity that enables the use of modern-day applications, no matter the location or altitude.

“Our LEO connectivity solution is redefining what’s possible for business aviation, and users benefit from consistent performance throughout the flight,” explains Eutelsat’s Head of Business and Government Aviation, Jason Sperry. “Passengers and crew increasingly expect the same fast, reliable connectivity in the air that they rely on at home and in the office. The result is a truly seamless and dependable onboard connectivity experience.”

Speaking of “connected,” Sperry says that Eutelsat is the exclusive LEO satellite network partner for Gogo’s new Galileo global connectivity solution.

“Gogo is a great partner with a rich history for delivering an exceptional online experience and unmatched customer support,” he adds. “We worked closely with Gogo’s engineers to design the compact HDX electronic steered array antenna, which is compact enough to bring global, broadband connectivity to any business aircraft.”

LEO delivers a better connectivity experience.

By operating much closer to Earth than geosynchronous (GEO) satellites, Eutelsat’s LEO OneWeb network delivers greater reliability, lower latency, and higher speeds, resulting in a richer, more responsive user experience and forever changing user expectations for in-flight connectivity.

As Sperry explains, “With OneWeb LEO, latency-sensitive applications like video conferencing and live streaming applications can now perform as well in the aircraft as they do anywhere in the world.”

Eutelsat is investing in an LEO constellation that will serve the aviation sector over the long term. Today, the OneWeb constellation has more than 600 LEO satellites in orbit, with another 440 scheduled to launch in the coming years.

Beyond 2030, the company plans to expand its constellation further through the new European IRIS² program, delivering additional capacity and capabilities to ensure operators can continue to rely on Eutelsat.

Sperry says, “No matter where they are in the world, we consistently hear how excited and satisfied our customers are to have Gogo Galileo and the OneWeb network on their aircraft today.