Page 73 - SAMENA Trends - August 2019

SATELLITE UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

LEO Satellites Will Change the IFC Game

Qatar Airways, which was only launched in 1997, is one of the step ahead of your customers in order to be able to deliver the
world’s fastest growing airlines and a pioneer in terms of In-Flight best solution and experience. This is something that I hope to see
Connectivity (IFC). Ashi Hoseini, manager of Electronic Flight more of in the airline industry over the next two to three years.
Bag (EFB) systems at the airline, spoke to Via Satellite recently My ambition is of course to continue the digital transformation in
about the airline’s view of the connected aircraft market, and new ways to increase simplicity and operational efficiency.” One
what could be coming down the pipeline. She believes the influx of the big questions for airlines when investing in connectivity
of Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites will dramatically change the solutions, particularly around satellite, is the potential Return
game. “Absolutely (they will impact the market)! LEO satellites are on Investment (ROI). With passengers seemingly somewhat
a new and growing technology and like any new technology, they reluctant to pay for these services, the challenge for airlines is
will have an impact and will probably disrupt the market. These how they can justify huge investments in equipping their fleets
satellites are cheaper to build and will open up the possibilities with state-of-the-art connectivity. On the business model
for other type of players and solutions. Other benefits are more question, Hoseini says, “Basing your business case and model
redundant systems, highly resilient and much greater bandwidth on the revenue from passengers is not correct and will never
compared to the traditional High Throughput Satellites (HTS),” she give the expected ROI. The business model should be based on
said. For an airline like Qatar Airways that invests aggressively in other types of benefits such as revenue gained via partnership
IFC, it needs to be aware of all the latest technology and solutions with other relevant industry players or by focusing on the benefits
as it looks to remain at the cutting edge of customer experience. gained as a result of automation of data distribution such as
Hoseini admits there are many new technologies and players in aircraft health monitoring, more frequent and accurate weather
the connectivity field, and new possibilities to be explored and and turbulence data, etc. The model is more complex and requires
evaluated. She said she hopes to see more established solutions more creativity and re-thinking.” However, Hoseini believes that
and more concrete examples and statistics related to benefits the market as well as the digital transformation taking place
and paybacks. She also talks about the possibilities of Artificial within airlines is leading to positive change. She said that during
Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). She said, “I hope that the last two to three years, connectivity has been growing and the
more and more vendors and application developers incorporate benefits are becoming more and more visible and tangible. “Be
the AI and ML technologies into their solutions. I believe that as connected at any time has also become a need and expected to
a developer in this fast pacing industry, you should be one or two exist by consumers and customers who connect to the internet
in order to interact with digital content, services, experiences
and brands. This digital connectivity, which supports the very
existence of connected consumers, has altered all aspects of life,”
she said. “We have also seen solutions that are more secure and
mature with proven track record in the industry. Many airlines
have also gone through a digital transformation and mobility in
different areas is growing. Connectivity is the main pre-requisite
and the best way to benefit from a digital and mobile solution,
which makes the way to a decision very short and a natural step. I
think that the combination of all above factors have led to a large
change in the market. And more and more airlines are joining the
trend and make connectivity part of their mobile strategy.”

Russia Refuses Approval for OneWeb Satellite Signals

Journalist Chris Forrester has posted at the publication Bleeping Computer said the access, according to Professor Christopher
Advanced Television infosite that OneWeb reason could be anxieties by Russia that Newman at Northumbria University,
wants to girdle the planet with around 650 it could not control the services from, and speaking to the BBC. “[Satellite internet]
satellites to provide global broadband to, OneWeb’s satellites. In May Russia’s presents an existential strategic threat to
coverage. To do this, the company needs President Putin signed a bill that obliges all their trying to limit internet activity within
the permission of major countries to send Russian web-traffic to pass through points their boundaries.” OneWeb already has 6
and receive signals from the overhead that are controlled by the government. GfK satellites on-orbit and, last month, started
satellites — Russia has refused to grant stated that a quarter of Russians do not mass-production of satellites at a rate of
these rights to OneWeb. OneWeb had have internet access. The latest refusal two per day. Somewhat ironically, OneWeb
applied to the Russian State Commission for the OneWeb platform was a sign that will be using Russian-built rockets to
for Radio Frequencies to approve the the country’s authorities remain keen to launch the bulk of the company’s satellite
use of OneWeb’s signals. Specialist continue tightening their control of internet fleet.

73 AUGUST 2019