Story ID: 552
Satcom Direct Launches Aircraft Connectivity Consulting Service
By: Chad Trautvetter
Caption: End-to-end solution helps operators select the best data, airtime and communications services; hardware; and pricing plans to suit their needs.
Word Count: 253
When considering connectivity options for a business aircraft, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the choices—satcom or air-to-ground network (and, if the former, L-, Ku- or Ka-band, or a combination of these?) and what provider, service plan, and in-aircraft hardware? Operators often have to sift through the marketing hype on their own, with hopes they make the right choice for a likely six-figure investment.

Thus, Satcom Direct has launched SD Xperience to provide an end-to-end solution to help operators select the best data, airtime, and communications services; hardware; flight operations software; and pricing plans tailored to their usage and need. The global connectivity solutions provider pledged to serve as an “agnostic consultant” under the new service.

“SD Xperience is an integrated suite of services available from a single trusted source,” Satcom Direct COO Chris Moore told AIN. “Satcom Direct is in control of all elements of the end-to-end solution, and customers select and choose systems that are appropriate to them. It will simplify procurement and pricing.”

Meanwhile, Satcom Direct is expanding its line-up of satcom service providers, adding Intelsat as a new partner. Under this tie-up, the company is now able to offer Ku-band service from Intelsat with by-the-hour pricing, which it calls FlexExec. “This means operators can pay only for what they use,” noted Moore.

An Astronics T310 terminal hardware enabling the Intelsat FlexExec service is expected to receive STC approval in the second quarter of next year.
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