Viasat Inc, Russian satellite operator Gazprom Space Systems (GSS) and Russian telecom operator TMC LLC (TMC) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance in-flight connectivity (IFC) in Russian airspace.
This cooperation is expected to offer Viasat’s global airline customers roaming connectivity when flying over Russia; providing IFC services on domestic flights within Russia; and enabling Russian and international airlines access to roam onto the Viasat global satellite network when outside of Russian airspace.
The MOU establishes an initial roaming agreement between current Viasat and GSS satellites, with Viasat operating in Russia leveraging TMC’s telecom license. The partnership commenced with Viasat procuring access to Ku-band capacity on the GSS satellite, Yamal-401 (pictured) while creating a path for Viasat and GSS to leverage capabilities on future satellite constellations.
Keven Lippert, chief commercial officer at Viasat, commented, “Our MOU with GSS and TMC is an important next step in establishing a global IFC roaming alliance that will ensure airlines have access to uninterrupted, feature-rich IFC services when flying into and over Russia.”
Each company will maintain its own intellectual property and will operate its equipment using a secure, multi-layered approach to network services. This non-binding MOU initially covers IFC services but could extend into other mobility or emerging markets.
