Thomson-CSF Sextant and Astrium have become the latest partnership to enter the crowded in-flight internet, e-mail and multimedia services market. The partners plan to launch e-mail and internet services next year in competition with a whole host of other companies and consortia, including the Boeing-led Connexion, Rockwell Collins/News Corporation's In-Flight Network, AirTV, Honeywell and BT.
Sextant will bring its avionics, satellite communication, in-flight entertainment system and programme management experience to the partnership. Astrium will be responsible for system architecture.
The partnership believes it is ahead of its competitors as Sextant's joint venture with Harris, LiveTV, already offers in-flight satellite broadcast services to passengers in continental USA, with JetBlue and Legend Airlines aircraft already outfitted.
The partners aim to introduce regional television, intranet and e-mail services next year, followed by uplink news. Between 2003 and 2005, a global television service, secure e-mail and internet connectivity will be added. Sextant and Astrium also plan to offer cockpit, maintenance and cabin crew functions, similar to those being developed and tested by Rockwell and German carrier Condor in the Integrated Information System programme. Crew services such as performance monitoring and operational information will be available in 2002. Remote maintenance aids, IFE content upload, take-off data and graphical weather information will be added between 2003 and 2005.
Source: Flight International
