Avionics
Iridium mulls high-speed data service for business jets
Iridium hardware maker International Communications Group (ICG) reports launching a study to determine the potential requirements for an aeronautical satco

Iridium hardware maker International Communications Group (ICG) reports launching a study to determine the potential requirements for an aeronautical satcom antenna capable of linking to a proposed high-speed-data transceiver under development by Iridium.

ICG president Armin Jabs said the company is evaluating antenna designs with an unidentified supplier to support a 128-kilobits-per-second data service Iridium plans to launch by the end of the year for the maritime market. Jabs said it might be possible to shrink the antenna that will be needed to support the service to a size that could be installed aboard business jets. An Iridium high-speed-data service would be a competitor to Inmarsat’s Swift services and some of the other airborne broadband options, Jabs said, “if we can find the right antenna.”