Panasonic (OTC:PCRFY) Avionics, a division of Panasonic Corporation, is advancing its worldwide expansion strategy by enhancing its satellite capacity. The company has made strategic agreements across various regions and is deploying High Throughput Satellite capacity in China and Japan to improve in-flight connectivity.
The company has secured Gigabit-class capacity on SKY Perfect/Jsat's SuperBird-9 satellite for its In-Flight Connectivity (IFC) broadband service, which is set to launch in the first half of 2027. The Superbird-9, built on the Airbus OneSat framework, is capable of dynamically reconfiguring coverage areas in Geosynchronous transfer orbit, primarily serving Japan's inflight connectivity market.
This strategic move is driven by the growing demand for superior in-flight internet services. Major airlines including Singapore Airlines (OTC:SINGY), Saudia, and United Airlines incorporate Panasonic's services, making superior connectivity available to an impressive 2.7 billion passengers annually across their combined fleet of 2544 aircraft. John Wade, VP for IFC at Panasonic Avionics, underscored the increasing demand for service and Panasonic Avionics' strategic investments like Superbird-9.
However, there have been persistent delays that have pushed the service entry from 2024 to 2027. These delays have raised questions about the validity of the launch contract with SpaceX Starship, which is expected to be ready by late 2026 when the satellite is prepared for launch. Despite these challenges, Panasonic Avionics remains committed to growing its Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellite capacity to meet escalating service demands.
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