Satellite Networks

Viasat, Turksat and SkyFive to enable IFC roaming from MEA to Europe

Viasat, Turksat and SkyFive to enable IFC roaming from MEA to Europe

Viasat Aviation, Turksat and SkyFive Arabia announced plans on Tuesday to enable seamless roaming for in-flight connectivity (IFC) services across Europe, Turkey and the Middle East-Africa (MEA) region.

The three companies said they intend to create an in-flight connectivity roaming framework that combines SKYFive’s air-to-ground (A2G) network and Viasat’s European Aviation Network (EAN) with Turksat's A2G network, which is currently being developed to support in-flight connectivity services within Turkish airspace.

Viasat said the roaming framework will enable Turksat's A2G network to serve as a bridge between Europe and MEA, enabling seamless cross-border in-flight connectivity for commercial airlines, private aviation, and other aviation customers.

The three networks will also use the same S-band spectrum to make roaming easier to implement.

Viasat said adding Turksat to the mix will enable more flexible route coverage, stronger service continuity, and a more compelling customer proposition for connected aircraft. The partnership will also help create a practical basis for wider cross-network cooperation as IFC adoption expands, said Shameem Hashmi, Viasat’s SVP for strategy and market expansion.

“Viasat recognizes the strong mutual value of collaborating on a joint roaming initiative to enable a seamless connectivity experience for our EAN airline customers operating over Turkey and into the Middle East and Africa,” Hashmi said in a statement.

However, the initiative currently remains “subject to applicable contractual, technical, regulatory, and operational requirements”, Hashmi added.



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