Inmarsat has signed a contract with China Transport Telecommunication Information Group Company Limited (CTTIC) to build a local SwiftBroadband-Safety (SB-S) satellite communication operation platform in China.
In addition, Inmarsat, CTTIC and Aviation Data Communication Corporation (ADCC) will jointly provide the advanced SB-S aviation safety service to the fast-growing Chinese aviation industry. Under the partnership, Chinese airlines will now have access to a comprehensive package that integrates Inmarsat’s Classic Aero and next-generation, IP-based, SB-S services. This will enable them, for the first time, to process all their data in China and fulfill the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC)’s Airline Operations Center (AOC) voice mandate and flight tracking requirements.
Inmarsat signs China distribution partners for SB-S.
From L to R: Liu Jian, Vice President at CTTIC; Captain Mary McMillan, Vice President of Aviation Safety and Operational Services at Inmarsat; and Li Guobin, Vice President at ADCC.
Photo is courtesy of Inmarsat.
The collaboration will leverage the capabilities of CTTIC’s Beijing satellite access station, ADCC’s experience in providing flight datalink services in China and Inmarsat’s proven expertise in providing satellite communications services to the aviation industry.
Inmarsat’s Classic Aero service is used by more than 90 percent of the world’s oceanic aircraft for communication, navigation and surveillance. The company’s next-generation SB-S platform, which was recently introduced into commercial service, is the first and only global, secure broadband platform for operations and safety communications. This service offers airlines unprecedented visibility into their operations to improve operational efficiency and profitability.
The commercial service introduction follows a successful in-flight evaluation on Hawaiian Airlines’ Boeing 767-300 aircraft and installations on the airline’s entire Airbus A321neo fleet. SB-S is also in flight evaluations with Shenzhen Airlines and United Airlines, and has been selected by Airbus as a Light Cockpit Satcom (LCS) solution on its A320 and A330 families. The service has undergone successful evaluation by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s Performance-Based Aviation Rulemaking Committee (PARC) as a platform to provide direct data link communication between pilots and air traffic control (ATC). It received the prestigious 2018 Jane’s ATC Award in the Technology category.
Inmarsat's SB-S applications.
Image is courtesy of Inmarsat.
Inmarsat is transforming the global aviation industry by bringing connectivity to every aircraft and flight route in the world. Inmarsat is the first and only satellite communications provider, which using its own network, capable of bringing high-speed IP connectivity to the cabin and the cockpit.
Captain Mary McMillan, Vice President of Aviation Safety and Operational Services at Inmarsat, said this contract represents a major step into the future for the aviation industry in China. Inmarsat's Classic Aero and SB-S platforms will enable CTTIC and ADCC to provide the most advanced satellite communications services wherever Chinese aircraft are flying, whether over the ocean or land.
Song Zhen, Vice President of CTTIC, added that this is a milestone agreement, as CTTIC, ADCC and Inmarsat are strong leaders in their respective markets. This partnership combines our individual strengths to provide China’s aviation industry with market-leading connectivity services for optimist aircraft operations.