Gallery: APEX showcases latest IFEC technologies

Airbus and Global content connectivity solutions provider SES signed a letter of agreement, paving the way for the company to become the second Managed Service Provider (MSP) to join the Airspace Link HBCplus catalogue offering for airlines. HBCplus grants airlines much needed flexibility as it decouples the bandwidth provider from the antenna and the IFE systems. The agnostic SFE antenna de-risks the airlines’ far reaching bandwidth supplier decisions and comes with Airbus support, warranties and seamless aircraft integration. Moreover, following a contract signature with Airbus, SES will bring its combined MEO and GEO network through the Airbus ecosystem for the first time. The growing Airspace Link open ecosystem provides airlines with a multifunctional onboard aircraft platform for IoT services and Apps. HBCplus is the crucial offboard connectivity link, underscoring its nose-to-tail nature.
 

High-speed satellite connectivity and entertainment solutions provider showcased its new Dual-Panel Ka-Band Inflight Connectivity Antenna System (DPSAA) at the Airline Passenger Experience Association Expo in Long Beach, California. The antenna is a key component of Anuvu’s Airconnect Ka multi-orbit connectivity platform designed specifically for both GEO and LEO networks, providing the best possible performance on each network. The DPSAA is the latest innovation from a family of antenna products designed by Anuvu’s partner QEST to withstand the harsh environment on the aircraft fuselage. Leveraging existing designs that have over 60 million hours of operational excellence, this latest antenna offers not only world-class reliability but also incorporates innovative technology designed to out-perform all other antenna platforms.
 

Intelsat was selected by Virgin Australia to provide 2Ku satellite connectivity solution for Boeing 737NGs and 737 MAXs to support passenger video streaming, web browsing and other Wi-Fi services. The 2Ku antennas that facilitate the IFC system will be installed gradually over 18 months on more than half of the airline’s fleet starting mid-December 2022.   
 

Panasonic Avionics launched a new all-in-one digital solutions platform, Modular Interactive (MI). MI features a fully integrated IFE interactive design and publishing tool that enables airlines to create unique, easy-to-implement seatback interactives in new and groundbreaking ways. MI was demonstrated during the APEX trade show in Long Beach, California, Oct. 25, 2022. MI addresses the needs of airlines looking to extend their brand using economically sophisticated or fully custom-built IFE interactives that appeal to today’s digitally savvy travelers. Its modular design gives airlines the ability to integrate and scale required software builds. By personalizing the seatback experience, airlines are able to speak directly to passengers and reflect different loyalty schemes, flight themes, locations, and promotional offers by tier, airline route or cabin class. 
 

Panasonic Avionics announced a wide range of new features for its inflight map platform, Arc. The company said its Arc v2.0 release is a significant progression for the entire inflight map category, and features live data capabilities and new tools that give customers control of their map experience. Arc v2.0 delivers advanced map design in a connected environment, and fully leverages the technology of Panasonic Avionics’ NEXT and its recently launched Astrova IFE systems.
 

IFEC solutions provider Panasonic Avionics and global communications company OneWeb will closely partner to enable Panasonic Avionics to market, sell, and support OneWeb’s high-speed, low-latency LEO in-flight broadband services to commercial airlines worldwide. Panasonic Avionics will offer OneWeb’s global service standalone or paired with Panasonic Avionics’ award-winning GEO service, which covers 99.6% of the world’s flight routes. This coverage and performance will improve the inflight surfing and streaming experience for passengers and will open the door to new, low-latency airline passenger experiences. 
 

Inmarsat is launching OneFi bundles—a series of six new bundles, spanning loyalty, shopping, and entertainment with the aim of supporting airlines’ ongoing recovery and unlocking even greater revenue generation opportunities. OneFi is a new connected platform that brings multiple inflight services together within a single portal interface, and dividing its features into a wealth of bundles adds the flexibility that airlines need to be able to build a customized digital onboard experience for passengers. Airlines will be able to pay for the bundles of features as and when they need them, launching them all at once or incrementally over time. Bundles available include OneFi Connect, Airline ID, Loyalty, Entertainment, Media, and Advertising. 
 

UK LCC easyJet is trialing AirFi’s portable streaming solution, the AirFi box, which will allow Airbus A320 passengers to connect to and browse the onboard shop menu while in flight, along with all passenger-facing aspects of the user experience onboard including flight and safety information, destination content, inflight magazine content and a selection of games, all free of charge. Customers flying onboard any of the airline’s Swiss fleet of 27 A320 family aircraft from Geneva and Basel will be able to use their own laptops, tablets, or Wi-Fi-enabled mobile phones to connect to a local Wi-Fi network created by the AirFi boxes onboard, to access the content.