Fremont, California – Fremont, California-based Seamless Air Alliance (SAA) announces accelerating the development and integration of 3GPP-designated 5G NTN into the aviation sector to enable future connectivity between terrestrial and non-terrestrial satellite networks Did.
Mobile satellite services have historically relied on proprietary technology that has prevented seamless integration with terrestrial networks. Airlines face significant challenges due to the lack of interoperability between different satellite providers’ in-flight connectivity (IFC) services due to differences in modems, antennas, and frequencies.
The Seamless Air Alliance (SAA) has established a dedicated Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) Working Group to address these issues. The group is focused on ensuring 5G NTN can address the unique challenges of the aviation industry and has published its first whitepaper. This paper describes the key factors and considerations for implementing 5G NTN in IFC and highlights the potential for significant evolution towards a fully interoperable aviation connectivity solution.
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Olivier Howe, Connectivity Fast Track Leader at Airbus and Co-Chair of the SAA NTN Working Group, said: “5G NTN will standardize IFC and eliminate the need for proprietary satellite technology that hinders airline technology upgrades and equipment compatibility. We offer opportunities to overcome limitations,” he emphasized.
Rubén Díaz Calvo, Principal Technology Platform Manager at Vodafone and Co-Chair of the NTN Working Group, invited aviation, telecommunications, satellite and connectivity providers to join the Alliance and contribute to standards development. Diaz Calvo emphasized that the SAA NTN Working Group plans to advance research on 5G NTN connectivity for the aviation sector and submit its results to 3GPP.
Jack Mandala, CEO of Seamless Air Alliance, said: “With global air passenger numbers expected to reach 9.4 billion this year, our member organizations are working to simplify passenger access and exceed expectations. We are working hard to do so.”
Founded by Airbus, Delta, OneWeb, Sprint and Airtel to provide seamless in-flight technology connectivity, SAA now works with dozens of airline and technology partners. It consists of seven specialized working groups chaired by experts in communications, aviation, and connectivity technologies. With the resources of more than 200 member companies actively participating, SAA is finalizing work on Seamless Release 7, and efforts are underway for Seamless Release 8, including exploring aviation use cases for 5G NTN. It’s already underway.
