CesiumAstro unveils in-flight connectivity satellite communications terminal

CesiumAstro unveils in-flight connectivity satellite communications terminal
by Staff Writers
Austin TX (SPX) Mar 24, 2023
CesiumAstro has announced its entry into the in-flight connectivity (IFC) market, providing the industry's most advanced multi-beam active phased array for airborne satellite communications applications. As the leading designer of active phased array technology for low-Earth orbit (LEO) space, CesiumAstro will provide the industry's first multi-beam make-before-break phased array supporting multiple Ka-band constellations for airborne commercial and defense markets. The high-performance yet cost-effective system is designed as a scalable solution for a wide range of airborne platforms spanning large commercial aircraft, business jets, helicopters, and unmanned aerial systems.

CesiumAstro's new IFC system is scheduled for multiple flight demonstrations with Airbus commercial aircraft and helicopters. These demonstrations will showcase the scalability and flexibility of the solution and its ability to connect to multiple satellites and orbits at one time, enabling make-before-break handoff, and other key features that enhance overall quality of service.

"Airbus R&T is committed to evaluating the latest technologies in the industry so that we can provide our customers best in class connectivity," said Olivier Hauw, leading Fast Track Connectivity at Airbus, "CesiumAstro's flat panel array technology is at the cutting edge, and we look forward to working together further."

CesiumAstro will begin demonstrations of its in-flight active phased array technology through 2023 and 2024 with testing moving from the ground to an Airbus helicopter.

"In-flight connectivity is a growing market, and we are developing the highest performing, most cost-effective solution that is timed to hit the market just as the latest Ka-band satellite constellations come online," said Shey Sabripour, founder and CEO at CesiumAstro. "Being constellation-agnostic will provide our customers greater flexibility with a key differentiator being multi-beam capability without having to sacrifice performance."

Today, most aircraft are flying with mechanically steered antenna technologies and are communicating through geostationary satellites. As the industry transitions to solid-state technologies, CesiumAstro's Ka-band flat panel solution will be lower profile, lighter weight, lower cost, and more flexible than any other solutions available. This game-changing capability is built to be rugged enough to be flown in space, while leveraging commercial automotive manufacturing techniques to control costs and produce at scale while ensuring reliability.