Story ID: 012AvionicsUpdateAINJan15EditedByAY_NM
Satcom1 Testing SwiftBroadband Channel Bonding
By: Matt Thurber
Caption: Testing has reached a stable output of 1.4 Mbps “over a significant period of time.”
Word Count: 200
Satcom1’s research and development team is testing bonding of three and four Inmarsat SwiftBroadband channels at its Paris Le Bourget lab. The bonding tests are running on a single Cobham SB-800 with two channels and two single-channel Cobham Aviation 350s, for a total of four channels. So far, testing has reached a stable output of 1.4 Mbps “over a significant period of time,” according to Francois Goudal, head of R&D at Satcom1. “However, it is important to note that the results are depending on many factors, [such as] the network load, especially in the Paris location, which is one of the busiest spot beams in the world. Therefore, we continue our R&D efforts to find the best and most efficient solution and we expect more details and positive news to come as we continue testing.”

Satcom1 is also beta testing an AvioPhone app update that will allow use of passengers’ own GSM phone numbers in flight, and this update will be released in the first quarter this year. The new GSM feature is available with installation of the AvioIP app on the aircraft’s router and with Satcom1 as the service provider.