Eutelsat 172B satellite. Image courtesy of Ariane Space
Eutelsat Communications’ 172B satellite has been successfully launched, along with ViaSat Inc.’s ViaSat-2 satellite, on Ariane Space flight VA237. Panasonic Avionics Corp. is set to benefit from the Ku-band payload, Panasonic said, enabling delivery of inflight connectivity solutions.
“The customized high-throughput payload on Eutelsat 172B will be a major growth platform for inflight connectivity,” Panasonic said. “Eleven elliptical beams will enable Panasonic to bridge the West Coast of North America to Asia and down to Australia, supporting rapid air traffic growth in the region and surges in bandwidth use across densely used flight paths. Panasonic will also use the satellite’s widebeam Ku-band coverage as an overlay to deliver live TV to aircraft.”
Eutelsat 172B’s payload features a new Ku-band multi-beam payload that delivers 1.8 Gbps of throughput. Panasonic said Asia Pacific has the most potential for in-flight entertainment and connectivity services. The company said 8,000 aircraft are anticipated for delivery in that region by 2034. The satellite is set to enter service in the fourth quarter of this year.