Business aviation solutions provider Satcom Direct is adding Dual Dissimilar terminal capabilities to its expanding hardware portfolio.
Satcom Direct has announced that successful validation of the Dual Dissimilar service has been taking place on the Satcom Direct Gulfstream G550 business jet during daily operations. According to the company, the Dual Dissimilar technology equips an aircraft with the Plane Simple® Ku- and Ka-band tail mount antennas (Dual) to support two different satellite constellations (Dissimilar). This will then result in the company’s customers being able to leverage the best aspects of each network to deliver full redundancy and ensure uninterrupted consistent global connectivity.
The G550 aircraft completed a transatlantic route in January from Rotterdam Airport in the Netherlands to Melbourne, Florida and during the nearly ten-hour flight, 40 devices optimised constant coverage for video streaming, avionics, onboard entertainment as well as multiple applications for airframe and personal devices.
The doubling of antennas increases the amount of data that can be transmitted to and from the aircraft and, consequently, the bandwidth available, enhancing digital communications, aircraft performance monitoring and crew operations support for both the avionics and cabin Wi-Fi.
The company says data can also be prioritised to chosen passenger devices, ensuring principals and key stakeholders always maintain the required connection, even when data demand in the cabin is high. “We know that aircraft owners are already installing more than one connectivity solution on their aircraft to satisfy the growing requirement for consistent data for passengers and crew,” said Jim Jensen, CEO and Founder of Satcom Direct.
“As Satcom Direct’s Plane Simple® antenna series is the industry’s first network-agnostic connectivity solution, we can add real value for our customers choosing the Dual Dissimilar option. We purpose-built the technology on modular, scalable open architecture, which means that in the future, customers will have access to the best available network services to meet their mission requirements.
“When integrated with our hardware, software, airtime services and infrastructure, customers can acquire, manage, upgrade and troubleshoot all their connectivity services with just one phone call. Our cohesive offering futureproofs the aircraft for software and satellite advancements, making staying connected much more convenient, cost-effective, and simple.”
The Dual Dissimilar technology will be integrated with each satellite partner’s network infrastructure and Network Operations Center (NOC). This gives the SD NOC clear visibility into network and data behaviour, which enables the expert team to predict any potential service interruption, communicate it to the network partner and resolve it, ensuring the aircraft connection is unaffected.
The option is anticipated to be available for purchase for large jets or any business jet airframe that can support two Plane Simple terminals when the Plane Simple Ka-band tail-mount antenna is commercially introduced in Q4 2023.
Satcom Direct delivers consistent, reliable connectivity across the globe and its proprietary software, hardware, terrestrial infrastructure, cybersecurity solutions and award-winning customer support create tailored data services for each individual customer mission.
