Shaping the Future of IFEC with Next-Gen Satellites

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The European Union-backed SpaceRISE- a consortium including Hispasat, SES, and Eutelsat, ‎among other partners- is setting a new standard for in-flight entertainment and connectivity ‎‎(IFEC). By merging the Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite ‎technologies, the SpaceRISE program will offer more powerful connectivity options. As airlines ‎continue to look to provide better connectivity options to passengers, this program will aim to ‎offer reduced latency, faster speeds, and global coverage to meet the demand for dependable ‎connectivity in the sky. This is a technological achievement and a stepping stone towards a more ‎connected aviation landscape.‎

Next-Gen Satellites
Over the years, IFEC has evolved from a luxury to an expectation. In 2004, Lufthansa Airlines ‎became the first airline to offer in-flight connectivity to its passengers on a flight between Munich ‎International Airport (MUC) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). On this groundbreaking ‎flight, passengers could access the internet for $30 for the whole flight or pay $10 for 30 minutes ‎and 25 cents for every minute after. Throughout the past two decades, IFEC has dramatically ‎evolved with Wi-Fi becoming a standard feature and an essential part of the passenger ‎experience. In fact, many major airlines now offer free Wi-Fi across their entire route network. ‎

In recent years, as the demand for connectivity has skyrocketed–especially on long-haul flights ‎that traverse oceans–as such IFEC providers began to look into new technologies that will allow ‎airlines to offer seamless high-speed connectivity across their fleets. Furthermore, this ‎connectivity must allow passengers to not only communicate over messages but also use data-‎heavy applications such as streaming and gaming. ‎

Throughout the past two decades, airlines have used mechanically steered antennas; however, ‎these have begun to show their limits. Mechanical antennas have slower satellite tracking and ‎handover speeds, and mechanical antennas cannot keep up, leading to service ‎interruptions. On many long-haul flights that transverse the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans, planes fly ‎over ‘dead zones,’ hindering the passenger experience where there is no connectivity due to the ‎remote location. But that will all change. ‎

Today, the way a plane connects to the different satellites often causes interruptions throughout ‎the flight. Planes connect to LEO and MEO satellites depending on their route and location. LEO ‎satellites orbit at a lower altitude, 1,200 miles (2,000 km) or less, and this lower altitude enables ‎them to provide high-speed connectivity and low latency. Despite these satellites’ global ‎coverage, they consistently struggle to work in areas with substantial demand. Furthermore, ‎these satellites continuously orbit around the Earth’s surface, and as such, antennas will ‎frequently have to change the LEO satellite they are utilizing because it is out of coverage. ‎Alternatively, MEO satellites orbit a much higher altitude, which varies between 1,243 and ‎‎22,300 miles (2,000 to 36,000 km) above the Earth. The high altitude enables it to have a wide ‎coverage and robust performance. What’s more, MEO satellites provide exceptional coverage ‎over a specific dense area. However, they do not cover the high latitudes where long-haul flights ‎fly. ‎

By combining LEO and MEO satellite technologies, SpaceRISE can offer uninterrupted ‎connectivity to travelers even when flying in remote or high-traffic areas. According to Chief ‎Executive Officer of Eutelsat, Eva Berneke, the program will offer “multi-layer, low-latency ‎networks.” Only through the use of both LEO and MEO satellites can airlines provide the in-flight ‎connectivity experience that passengers have grown accustomed to in a seamless and ‎uninterrupted manner. According to SpaceRISE, this integration between the satellite ‎technologies will be powered by an intelligent network management system, permitting them to ‎provide connectivity regardless of demand and location.

Airline Connectivity ‎
For the airline industry, SpaceRISE’s developments are immense. On the operational side, the ‎enhanced connectivity will lead to better operational efficiency as real-time data sharing between ‎the aircraft and the ground time will be more reliable. What’s more, it will allow airlines to ‎increase safety and lower fuel costs thanks to optimizing flight paths and predictive ‎maintenance. By adopting this technology, airlines can stay ahead in the competitive market ‎landscape. ‎

On the passenger experience side, SpaceRISE will support the growing trend toward complete ‎digitization throughout the industry. Airlines want to give passengers an identical internet ‎experience to their homes even though they are flying at 30,000 feet. With the continued ‎advancements in technology, travelers have grown accustomed to always-on, high-speed in-‎flight connectivity. Due to the combination of satellite technology, airlines will now be able offer ‎this to travelers, providing a wide array of connectivity services ranging from streaming live ‎television broadcasts to high-definition streaming. Passengers will have a more enjoyable travel ‎experience and, regardless of their flight duration or route, will be able to stay connected. For ‎business travelers especially, this will ensure real-time communication and allow passengers to ‎participate in video calls, stay in touch with people on the ground, and collaborate with others on ‎projects. ‎

The SpaceRISE program showcases Europe’s commitment to facilitating global connectivity ‎through significant investment in these satellite technologies. This initiative will catalyze broader ‎advances in satellite communications and set a new baseline for in-flight connectivity. It is set to ‎revolutionize the passenger experience, ensuring that low-latency, high-speed connectivity will ‎become an intricate part of modern airline travel. With airlines set to utilize evolutionary ‎technologies, passengers can anticipate a future where staying connected in the sky is just as ‎seamless as on the ground. ‎