Canadian Marconi (CMC) expects to have avionics equipment available for airlines to receive the global AirTV in-flight television service in the second quarter of 2002.
The Canadian manufacturer, best known for its satellite communication antennas and flight management systems, is the exclusive antenna supplier to AirTV, which aims to pioneer global live television for airlines.
As well as CMC, the industrial team developing the global television service for in-flight entertainment includes system designer Aerospatiale; Alcatel Space, which is manufacturing the satellite and ground system; and Sogerma, which will handle the engineering services for installation.
The AirTV space segment will comprise four satellites, based on the Alcatel Spacebus 3000, said Bruce Bailey, CMC's director, airborne communication systems, at the Inflight Passenger Entertainment and Communications Conference in London last month.
The first satellite is scheduled for launch in the third quarter of 2001, with the second following in the first quarter of 2002, another in the third quarter of that year. The final launch will take place in the fourth quarter of 2002.
Three ground earth stations are expected to be in place by the second quarter of 2002.
CMC is developing a phased-array antenna for the service, based on its satellite communication antenna, which has a 70% share of the widebody aircraft market.
AirTV will provide airlines with 30 television channels, including news, sport, children's programmes and movie channels. Sporting and musical events could be offered to passengers on a pay-per-view basis.
AirTV has already secured frequencies for the service from the International Telecommunications Union. Pricing has yet to be determined, says Bailey.
Live television has attracted much interest from airlines and the service provision market is becoming crowded. AirTV is the only provider to offer a dedicated satellite network, however.
Airshow, Boeing and Rockwell Collins Passenger Systems offer services to business aircraft operators, but Rockwell, Sextant In-Flight Systems and Sky Media all plan live television services for airliners, in partnership with ARINC.
Many airlines, including British Airways, Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines, have expressed interest in live broadcast television services, but they want a global service rather than a regional one.
Marconi is in talks with airlines about the AirTV launch and expects "key relationships" to be in place in the next six months.
Source: Flight International
