Story ID: 
AirCell broadband services nearing launch
By: Harry Weisberger
Caption: AirCell is at NBAA 2007 heralding next year’s launch of new broadband services as modular options to its Axxess cabin system.
Word Count: 308
AirCell is at NBAA 2007 heralding next year’s launch of new broadband services as modular options to its Axxess cabin system. The company is at Booth No. 1630 offering details about its own broadband system, which will operate domestically over the exclusive, dedicated frequencies the FCC awarded to AirCell last year, as well as the Inmarsat SwiftBroadband service offering global in-flight voice and data at up to 432 kbps per channel. Both are to become available in the latter part of next year.For business aviation customers, AirCell will start taking orders for its own broadband service next April and plans to begin deliveries in the third quarter of 2008. The SwiftBroadband option, powered by Thrane & Thrane as a modular AirCell Axxess add-on, will become available late next year. SwiftBroadband will join other network services compatible with the AirCell Axxess system, including Iridium and Inmarsat Swift64.AirCell’s broadband system will initially provide coast-to-coast and border-to-border U.S. coverage, with service over Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean planned to follow.SwiftBroadband added to a new or pre-existing Axxess cabin system, will enable worldwide voice and high-speed data service. Initially, SwiftBroadband service through the Inmarsat-4 satellite constellation will be available across the Americas, Africa, Europe and Asia. “AirCell’s new domestic broadband service will give business aircraft travelers the option to connect using their own WiFi laptops, PDAs and dual-mode Smartphones in the cabin–all at broadband speeds–to greatly transform their travel experience,” according to Jack Blumenstein, AirCell president and CEO. The AirCell Axxess multichannel satcom system has a modular flexible cabin architecture with the ability to upgrade as new technologies become available. It provides as standard two built-in Iridium satellite communications channels and will include as an option for the domestic broadband service a single LRU weighing less than 15 pounds linked to AirCell Axxess via an integrated Ethernet port.