These companies have partnered to provide services to deliver broadband connectivity to airlines throughout China.
Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (NASDAQ, TASE: GILT), provider of satellite networking technology and services have partnered with Air Esurfing, a fully owned subsidiary of Air Media Group, to transform the domestic IFC market in China. The partners intend to utilize China’s Ka-band HTS capacity for domestic IFC services over mainland China.
Gilat will leverage its multi-service HTS platform that will operate with ChinaSatcom’s Ka-band capacity that will be launched this year. Gilat’s solution will enable continuous service exceeding 100Mbps and servicing many dozens of passengers per aircraft.
Gilat will provide a complete IFC terminal including its unique ER6000-A KuKa antenna terminal and its Taurus Modman. The partners will jointly pursue STC certification for the Gilat system with commercial pilots already planned for early 2018.
“We have chosen to collaborate with Gilat due to its proven presence in China and its technological leadership in Mobility baseband as well as Aero antenna terminals for IFC,” said Mr. Zhou Hong, General Manager Air Esurfing. “We see in Gilat the perfect partner to open the door for IFC in the domestic Chinese market and are excited about the joint opportunity.”
Jun Xiang, Gilat China General Manager said, “China is a strategic market for Gilat and as such we have taken a key role in the development of HTS broadband over the last two years, with deployment of our multi-service platform to address both fixed and mobility applications. We are committed to the Chinese market and in particular to the Chinese IFEC market, and continue to seek additional Chinese as well as international players to partner in this mission, and are in discussion with several such players.”