Hope though one might, sitting in a window seat is unlikely to deliver a solid satellite-based connection for personal devices, even as direct-to-device satellite connectivity services come online. But that does not mean the industry can ignore the technology. Indeed, the Seamless Air Alliance (SAA) aims to incorporate the underlying non-terrestrial network (NTN) concepts in an updated standard that could, some day, result in a common hardware installation that reduces replacement costs when switching between providers.
To achieve this goal SAA formed a NTN working group, with members from a dozen companies across the mobility and data world. Their goal is to ensure that the 3GPP NTN standards – which will drive development of chipsets, signaling protocols, and other details – will consider the inflight connectivity market while the standards are being developed rather than as a bolt-on afterthought. That group published its initial white paper today, outlining challenges and potential for the IFEC industry with such standards in play.
5G NTN provides an opportunity to harmonize IFC standards and overcome the limitations of proprietary satellite technologies, which prevents airlines from pursuing technology upgrades and inhibits the interchangeability of equipment.
– Olivier Hauw, Fast Track Leader Connectivity at Airbus and co-chair of the SAA NTN Working Group
SAA’s goal with this working group is to further “evolution toward a fully interoperable solution for aviation connectivity.” By using a 3GPP-approved NTN standard to control the satellite communications, rather than each satellite operator defining its own protocols, the organization aims to simplify the challenges and costs associated with development of the modems that must be installed on aircraft.
Seamless Air Alliance CEO Jack Mandala is quick to point out that the existing options, including multi-modem modman systems and software-defined modems, can deliver some similar efficiencies. But he also is keen on the idea of a single solution that does not require the complexity inherent in those designs, “[T]here is no denying this could be the endgame for an airline or Airbus or Boeing to install [a 3GPP NTN standards-compliant modem] on the airplane and just be done with it.”
The working group also notes the 5G framework allows for the segmentation of any given network, isolating traffic “slices” in a way that improves security of the communications. This cold lead to more efficient use of bandwidth on board, as well as increased redundancy, while combining network domains (i.e. flight deck, crew, passengers) that historically have been carried on separate physical networks to ensure data security. These logical data channels could operate over multiple physical links to the aircraft, adjusting through phases of flight as different networks become available or go offline.
For most airlines the process of installing inflight internet service means selecting a series of expensive, proprietary solutions, locking them in to one provider for an extended period of time. The modem is arguably the easiest part to swap out, accessible in the electronics bay. But not having to swap it is still easier, especially if the antenna works with the new satellite constellation (which is far from a sure thing).
Like many things in the inflight connectivity world, progress on this front is not expected to come particularly quickly. The group aims to present a position paper to 3GPP in a matter of months, but also realizes it must consider a much longer-term plan for when such considerations might become part of the standard. And then integrated into satellite networks. And then developed into functional solutions.
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