Viasat has developed a high-speed Ka-band satellite communications system that fits on midsize jets and announced that Embraer will be offering the Viasat system on its Legacy 450 and 500 business jets. EBACE visitors can try out the satcom at Viasat’s booth (P107), thanks to the Viasat antenna mounted on the Palexpo hall’s roof, and experience connectivity speeds of up to 16 Mbps.

Antenna size is a limiting factor for satcom data rates, and thus far the antenna needed for Inmarsat’s Ka-band satcom fits on large-cabin and VIP business jets. Flat-panel phased array antennas that are under development will lead to more widespread installation opportunities. Viasat operates its own Ka-band (and Ku-band) satcom network using ViaSat satellites and also manufactures airborne hardware, including antennas. The company’s compact 12-inch G-12 antenna, which is mechanically steered, requires no additional RF box and thus can be installed on the empennages of midsize jets.

The Viasat Ka-band satcom requires just three LRUs, the antenna, antenna control unit (ACU), and modem, and it works with any type of router. The ACU is part of the antenna, according to Viasat, and the power supply operates with either AC or DC power. Total system weight is 51.4 pounds, and the G-12 antenna weighs 26.4 pounds.

“This is a first for a midsize jet,” said James Person, director of global business development for business and VVIP aviation. The Viasat Ka-band satcom will also be available as a retrofit for in-service Legacy 450s and 500s and for other aircraft on which the G-12 can be installed. Viasat has tested and installed Ku- and Ka-band systems on government and special-mission aircraft as small as Beechcraft King Airs, Pilatus PC-12s, and Cessna Caravans. “We could also do that for business aircraft operators if there is a compelling business case,” the company said.

Person said “the addressable market for the Ka-band satcom is about 5,000 aircraft,” or 8,000 including Ku-band systems. “As we and others look to flat-panel antennas, that opens up the market for even smaller aircraft to potentially 20,000 aircraft,” he added.

Viasat’s network provides service over North America and Europe, and peak data rates of up to 16 Mbps are available even with the smallest data plans. Four new service plans, which are sold by retail value-added resellers, are available and include the Ultra30, Ultra40, Ultra60, and Ultra100 plans with corresponding numbers of gigabytes, ranging in price from $6,995 to $24,995 per month for new users.

Service speeds are set to increase when Viasat launches three ViaSat-3 satellites, with the first serving the Americas planned to enter service in 2020. The other two will provide coverage in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, while the third will serve the Asia-Pacific region. The Ka-band systems installed today and running on ViaSat-1 and soon ViaSat-2 satellites will be able to take advantage of the higher-speed ViaSat-3 service.

Viasat customers can also subscribe to live television service, which requires no additional hardware and works over the Ka-band network. The TV service also does not impact the customer’s data allowance. Embraer will offer the TV service to customers that opt for the Viasat satcom.

Viasat also announced that it has expanded its relationship with Honeywell GoDirect, which is one of four value-added resellers that sell Viasat’s Ku-band service. Last year, Satcom Direct signed up as the first service provider for Viasat Ka-band, and GoDirect is now the second Ka-band reseller. Viasat will announce additional Ka-band service providers this year, Person said.

Viasat also offers a dual-band Ka-/Ku-band shipset, and customers with this equipment can receive via GoDirect Ku-band data on Ka-band service plans with 40 GB or higher at no additional service cost.