Yahsat to trial Ka-band in-flight connectivity on Etihad

Yahsat says its Ka-band capacity will provide higher speeds and cheaper rates compared with other Ku-band systems. Ka-band could offer speeds of up to 50Mbps to the plane, allowing passengers to stream video and enable applications such as video conferencing.

CEO Massood Mahmood said that it was early days for the trial and the final details had not been worked out. He added that Yahsat was looking at various options, including dual Ku/Ka-band antennas and coverage, and partnerships with others in the sector.

“We’ve been looking at the possibility of in-flight connectivity over our satellites for some time,” Mahmood said. “We now have extensive experience of providing reliable Ka-band coverage to a wide range of users, including government and military.

“That knowledge will prove invaluable for this next phase of our development – it’s a very exciting time.”