LiveTV and Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: IRDM) have entered into an agreement to develop an aviation antenna based on the Iridium OpenPort(r) high-speed communications service, which launched in the maritime market in 2008. LiveTV is displaying a prototype of the antenna, developed for a LiveTV Iridium OpenPort-based system enabling cockpit-to-cabin connectivity services, this week at the Aircraft Interiors Expo 2010 in Hamburg, Germany, May 18-20, 2010.

The planned low capital cost of the LiveTV Iridium OpenPort-based aviation equipment, and cost-effective airtime packages, will enable affordable ongoing, global connectivity to keep crew, operations staff and passengers in touch, according to Moeller, who also foresees a considerable market in the business jet sector. According to the Company, Iridium NEXT, the company’s next-generation satellite constellation, will be backward compatible with the Iridium OpenPort platform.