Panasonic Avionics Corporation announced today that it is launching a new global communication service which will provide broadband data communications services to aircraft. Panasonic is offering a new antenna system which provides superior bandwidth in a smaller, lighter and lower drag configuration. The broadband antenna system can also be paired with a direct broadcast television antenna in the same radome system for the simplest installation.

This new broadband service will support both data and digital voice communications. Panasonic plans to support AeroMobile’s aircraft mobile phone service. This new Pico-cell technology will support service over Inmarsat satellites and Panasonic’s own broadband network. Panasonic will also introduce a new Wireless Access Point (WAP) to provide broadband data connectivity to passengers over a high-speed secure wireless distribution network. 

The Panasonic DBS TV service allows reception of the many channels of regional television programs from direct broadcast television satellites all over the world. This capability supports live programming like news, sports and financial news as well as national and regional multi-lingual programming. DBS TV provides programming choices previously unavailable or feasible.

The new broadband services will be integrated with Panasonic’s market leading entertainment systems to bring exciting new real-time communication and content capability to each passenger seat. Airlines may also wish to take advantage of this cost effective data communication capability for their own information applications.

“Many of our customer airlines see broadband communications and direct broadcast television service as extensions of their in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems. It was natural for them to ask us, their IFE partner, to bring them an integrated solution that meets all of their needs,” said Paul Margis, President of Panasonic Avionics Corporation.  Margis continued “Panasonic Broadband Services is an exciting new service offering which we believe will bring powerful communication capability in an affordable product to virtually all airlines.”