Panasonic, Nelco team up for IFC
Panasonic Avionics Corporation announced today an agreement with Nelco Limited (Nelco) to provide satellite connectivity services to passengers flying into India and over Indian airspace.
Panasonic is the first satellite communications provider to begin inflight connectivity (IFC) operations under Nelco’s Department of Telecommunications license for In-Flight and Maritime Connectivity (IFMC), in accordance with the Flight and Maritime Rules. As a result of this agreement, Panasonic, and its subsidiary ITC Global, now offer connectivity to both aircraft and maritime vessels operating within India. Panasonic and Nelco have been working together on this since March 2019. The agreement was signed by Panasonic, Nelco and Tatanet services on September 13, 2019 and since then, Panasonic and Nelco have integrated networks to enable connectivity services using bandwidth from Indian satellites landing in Nelco’s teleport in Mumbai, India.
Panasonic’s inflight connectivity solutions enable passengers to stay connected while they fly. Along with its subsidiary AeroMobile, Panasonic is working with Nelco and local telecoms organizations to deliver seamless connectivity for data, text and voice services accessible via a passenger’s mobile device inflight.
“Becoming the first satellite communications provider to offer services over India is a major milestone for Panasonic,” said Ken Sain, Chief Executive Officer of Panasonic Avionics Corporation in today's announcement. “We are delighted to be partnering with Nelco, and are proud to offer our valued customers the ability to change the way people stay connected in flight, at sea and in remote locations around the world.”
The service will be available on aircraft equipped with this service traveling across Indian airspace and is expected to launch on Vistara in early 2020 – the first Indian-based airline to offer a service of this kind to passengers.
“As Vistara inches closer to launching long-haul international operations and becomes a global brand, our steadfast effort is to provide a truly world-class service to our customers to and from India,” said Vinod Kannan, Chief Commercial Officer of Vistara. “Our partnership with Panasonic in providing a state-of-the-art IFE system and satellite connectivity is a step in that direction.”
Panasonic and ITC Global are already delivering connectivity services to customers in the aviation and maritime markets with equipment already installed on more than 2,500 aircraft, vessels, and other platforms with its inflight connectivity service currently offered by more than 65 airlines globally. The GSAT 14 satellite, which is currently being used on over 700 aircraft from over 30 airlines, will ensure that passengers onboard Panasonic connected flights will enjoy a full suite of connected services while flying over Indian airspace or into India.
