PAX Panel: The next chapter in connectivity
PAX Panel: The next chapter in connectivity, is available on YouTube now
This fall, PAX Tech partnered with sponsor Panasonic Avionics Corporation (PAC) to bring industry experts together to discuss the push for frictionless connectivity, the impacts of LEO versus GEO satellite and the importance of data driven decision making.
Moderated by Business Editor Robynne Trueman, panelists for the seventh episode of PAX Panel, entitled “The next chapter in connectivity,” include John Wade, Vice President, Connectivity Business Unit, PAC; Benny Retnamony, Founder and CEO, Neuron; Philippe Schleret, Vice President Aviation, Telesat; Reza Rasoulian, Senior Vice President, Hughes; and Kurt Weidemeyer, Vice President Product Management, Thales InFlyt Experience.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to use modern LEO and legacy GEO and I can tell you the difference is night and day,” says Wade during the discussion. “It is the closest thing to giving passengers the experience in the air that they have on the ground. From an airline perspective, we tend to think the future is LEO.”
Schleret stresses the importance of understanding that not all LEO is created equal. Constellations are unique and equipment compatibility differs between providers. He also notes that LEO is a futureproof solution that helps airlines meet increasing passenger demand.
Rasoulian adds that while LEO has its benefits, network density is a challenge, specifically over airport hubs. Hughes is blending LEO and GEO satellite to provide the benefits of both network types, focusing on providing a reliable connectivity experience, “for every passenger, every single time.”
Beyond satellites, data is critical for airlines to make informed decisions and improve passenger satisfaction around IFC, and Retnamony highlights how variable factors, such as geography and passenger demographics, ought to be considered. Weidemeyer says that AI is bound to make this data even easier to analyze.
“I think a couple of years from now, we’ll be having a very different conversation,” he says.
Wade underlines that reliability and consistency should be the focus now and in the future. As onboard systems become more powerful and offer cloud-computing, he explains that LEO and low latency become even more critical to success.
“Maybe in five years’ time, we’ll see this industry be LEO only and we won’t see a role for GEO,” Wade muses. “It comes down to scalability.”
