Singapore | October 25, 2016– Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic), the worldwide leader in inflight entertainment and communications (IFEC), today announced that it has been selected by Airbus as lead supplier for High Bandwidth Connectivity (HBC) technology on its A320, A330, and A380 platforms.

Panasonic’s Global Communications Service uses a Ku-band satellite network to deliver high-speed communications services on 99.6 percent of all air traffic routes. The service lets passengers connect to the people, digital entertainment, and web content of their choice. It also enables Panasonic’s eXTV solution, which is the industry’s only global inflight television service.

Over 70 customers have selected Panasonic’s Global Communications Service for more than 3,500 aircraft. The company estimates that an additional 12,000 aircraft will be committed to its high-speed network by 2025.

Chris Lundquist, Vice President of OEM Accounts, Corporate Strategy and Business Development for Panasonic Avionics Corporation comments: “Over the past six years, Panasonic has delivered more than 60 high-speed wireless connectivity systems to Airbus for linefit installation across its A380, A330 and A350 platforms. We are pleased to extend this capability to A320 and thus across all Airbus platforms”

“By signing the HBC contract, we have enhanced our tremendous relationship with Airbus and look forward to providing our industry-leading broadband communications solutions for their aircraft. Together, both companies will improve passenger’s inflight experience and extend, enhance and differentiate our airline customer’s brands.”

Panasonic currently has the largest number of connectivity-enabled aircraft types installed and the most Wi-Fi enabled aircraft flying international routes.

Hamburg, Germany | April 5, 2016– Airbus has selected Rockwell Collins as a lead supplier of High-Bandwidth Connectivity (HBC) for the Airbus A320 single-aisle family of aircraft, and long-range A330 and A380 aircraft.

Under the terms of the agreement, airlines purchasing Airbus aircraft can select HBC from Rockwell Collins to meet the growing demand for high-speed connectivity.

“In our day-to-day conversations with our airline customers, the need for high-speed connectivity is top of mind. The solution we’re providing meets the significant pressure airlines are getting from their passengers to provide a superior connectivity service while flying,” said Greg Irmen, vice president and general manager, Flight Controls and Information Systems, Rockwell Collins. “We’re excited to be part of the movement to bring people together around the world, no matter where they may be.”

As a lead supplier, Rockwell Collins will collaborate with Airbus to develop and deploy both a linefit and retrofit HBC system to ensure an end-to-end managed SATCOM solution. Specific details about the technology solution will be released as they are finalized.

Airbus’s HBC selection builds upon Rockwell Collins’ extensive amount of next-generation systems it supplies the aircraft maker. Numerous Rockwell Collins systems are standard on the Airbus A350 XWB and options for the A320 and A330 aircraft families. Most recently, Rockwell Collins was selected by Airbus to supply its Electronic Flight Bag interface and communications unit, which is part of its Secure Server Router portfolio, as options on A320s and A330s.

Hamburg, Germany | April 5, 2016– Thales has been selected by Airbus as Lead Supplier for HBC solutions to be deployed on A320, A330 and A380 aircrafts in linefit and retrofit mode.

Thales’ High Bandwidth Connectivity solutions will provide passengers the bandwidth they need to enrich their travel experience and airlines with the connectivity solution that satisfies their operational requirements.

This selection is an important milestone in the long-standing relationship between Airbus and Thales. In addition to the already selectable GX Connectivity solution for A350s, this agreement enables Thales to become linefit offerable for connectivity products and related VAR services on all legacy Airbus platforms, today and in the future.

HBC solutions are designed to operate standalone or connected to an IFE system.

Thales’ inflight entertainment and connectivity portfolio combines innovative technologies, a global support network, with a complete ecosystem that provides airlines valuable services to improve operational efficiencies and increase passenger engagement.

In this safety-critical and technology-rich environment Thales has a pedigree and global presence no other provider can match, across aviation, avionics, satellite networks, connected skies, cyber security and passenger entertainment.