Intelsat Flex Network Upgrade Delivers Faster Speeds to Business, Government Aviation
Intelsat, operator of one of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial networks, has started enhancing its Flex network to boost performance and ultimately the end-user experience globally. Working with connectivity service provider Satcom Direct, customers will immediately receive the updated service without requiring hardware or software updates.
“Intelsat has long been an innovator in delivering unrivalled network performance,” said Mark Rasmussen, Intelsat’s SVP of Business Development. “Introducing these higher speeds for business and government aircraft is a prime example of how we continuously work with SD to meet and exceed market expectations. Our Flex network, designed exclusively for business and government aviation, is now even more capable of delivering the high-speed, secure connectivity that our customers require.”
The improved services are now available to customers following recent trials that confirmed the SD Plane Simple Ku-band antenna system reliably delivers speeds as fast as 50 Mbps. The enhancements have been achieved ahead of schedule and will be followed by further network modifications.
“Keeping pace with the needs of our customers means we need to innovate with our service partners constantly. It’s even more impressive that these higher speeds are being made available to the global business and government aviation fleets sooner than anticipated and without any hardware or software changes,” said Chris Moore, President of Satcom Direct. “Customers are not required to book maintenance slots for equipment changes; there is no need for aircraft downtime, and most importantly, no extra investment is required to receive the improved service. We designed our hardware to keep pace with satellite network changes to streamline the connectivity ownership experience, and this demonstrates the value this brings.”
Customers already using the Plane Simple Ku-band terminal are equally enthusiastic. Henrik Thorsell, Director of Maintenance at Planet 9, said, “Since installing the Plane Simple Ku-band antenna, the connectivity has consistently been top-notch, no matter where we are flying. I really appreciate how Intelsat stays ahead of demand by increasing speeds and continuously advancing the network. It gives me confidence that my system will remain reliable and future-proof for years to come.”