Underlining the continuing diversification of space-based telecoms, satellite communications company Viasat has made two very different announcements in recent days – one involving satellite communications for buses and the other for private jets.
The company says its new managed connectivity solution Digital Bus allows bus operators to provide high-quality passenger connectivity experiences using bonded satellite and cellular connectivity.
In recent successful trials in Brazil, says Viasat, Digital Bus delivered connectivity with high availability across varied geographical regions. The solution is available now for bus operators in Brazil, with other regions to be announced in the near future.
Many transport companies operating inter-city or inter-state routes regularly travel through areas with limited or no cellular connectivity. To deal with this issue, Viasat’s Digital Bus solution features customisable managed satellite and cellular connectivity, an operational intelligence platform for the operator to monitor the connectivity system and other datapoints, and a passenger portal which the customer can use to access the service.
The passenger portal allows customers to access Wi-Fi quickly and intuitively, while bus operators can develop varied monetisation approaches through targeted and dynamic advertising, as well as understanding passenger feedback and insights.
The solution uses aggregate connectivity from satellites and cellular networks backed by Viasat’s enterprise-grade network infrastructure and integrated connectivity platform. The hardware can be installed as a retrofit solution. Viasat says it is working closely with OEMs to line-fit the solution in the near future. The result will be a fully managed service allowing operators to focus on their ability to deliver passengers to their destinations on time.
Meanwhile, a very different customer base is no doubt welcoming Viasat’s announcement that business aviation customers using its in-flight connectivity solution on super-midsized private jets can now benefit from expanded coverage into the Middle East and South America.
The service enhancement is available to current and future customers using Viasat’s Global Aero Terminal (GAT) 5510, which already provides high-performance connectivity with uncapped speeds over North and Central America, the Caribbean, North Atlantic flight tracks and Europe.
Expanded coverage into the Middle East and South America has been delivered by optimising the use of Viasat’s satellite network assets and management tools, with existing customers only requiring a simple over-the-air software download and remote configuration.
The compact GAT 5510 terminal is certified on a range of different private jets. Available as a linefit option on the Gulfstream G280, Bombardier C3500 and Embraer Praetors, it is also a retrofit option through Viasat’s network of authorised dealers, with Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) on several popular airframes.
Kai Tang, Head of Business Aviation at Viasat, says the company is looking forward to building on this momentum with other strategic coverage extensions soon.
He adds: “This also marks an important step in harmonising Viasat business aviation solutions following our acquisition of Inmarsat. As our service for super-midsized private jets continues to evolve, it has also transitioned from its former name of Viasat Ka [a reference to the company’s global Ka-band network] and is now part of our next generation JetXP in-flight connectivity brand.”
