Photo courtesy of Satcom Direct
Satcom Direct’s SD LTE Hub has received parts manufacturer approval from the FAA, the company said. The product is set to launch during National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition next week in Las Vegas.
Long-Term Evolution delivers connectivity to the aircraft on the ground, and a router connects the rotary or turboprop cabin while in flight with the air-to-ground network or satellite communications system. Compatible with L-, Ku and Ka-band networks, the router can delivery constant connectivity at any altitude, anywhere, according to the company. Satcom Direct said the product is a response to increased market demand for connectivity solutions for small- to mid-sized business aircraft.
“The introduction of the SD LTE Hub to the market means we can bring the office-in-the-sky concept to the smaller cabin through improved data speeds, delivered by the compact, but powerful unit,” said Satcom Direct Director of Hardware Products Jason Sperry. “We know operators and private owners of the smaller cabins want access to the same connectivity options as the large jets, and anticipate this will fill a growing need in the market. For operators of mixed-size fleets there is now an SD router solution whatever their connectivity needs, large, medium or small.”
SD LTE Hub fits onto new aircraft or can be retrofitted. It measures about 17cm x 14.7cm x 2.5cm and weighs 725 gm. It incorporates an 802.11ac Wi-Fi access point, which supports data transfer rates of up to 867 Mbps across the cabin network, Satcom Direct said. SD LTE Hub also interfaces with SD Pro, ARINC 429 inputs also enable on-screen moving maps.