Following today’s announcement (Monday, October 12) of Lufthansa’s adoption of AeroMobile’s in-flight mobile phone technology, AeroMobile chief executive Bjorn-Taale Sandberg said:

“This is an industry transformational deal spelling out that major airlines are recognising the need to keep their passengers connected with broadband and cellular connectivity, covering mobile phones and Blackberries.

“As the only in-flight cellular provider operating commercially in the wide-body market today we clearly recognise the demands of the long haul business traveller – this commitment reaffirms AeroMobile’s position as the industry leader.

“AeroMobile is unique in providing airlines with flexibility and a future-proofed connectivity vision. We have customer commitments from airlines operating Inmarsat Classic Aero, Swift64, SwiftBroadband and now Ku band. Lufthansa’s commitment to Panasonic’s multi megabyte Ku band solution, eXConnect, will allow AeroMobile to deliver a much richer user experience, provide more comprehensive value-added cellular services and a growth path to 3G.”

AeroMobile, which was the first company to offer in-flight mobile phone services in full commercial service when it launched with Emirates in March 2008, is currently installed on over 50 wide-bodied aircraft across six aircraft types with Emirates and Malaysian Airlines. This figure will rise into three figures in 2010 as AeroMobile’s equipment is installed across with its customer base of primarily long haul flag-carriers.

The Lufthansa announcement, which sees AeroMobile’s equipment installed through Panasonic’s eXPhone system, means AeroMobile now has commitments spanning all wide-bodied aircraft variants including B747 and A380.

Mr Sandberg added: “Having taken in-flight connectivity to the next level with Panasonic back in 2007 when we carried out the world’s first commercial trail with Qantas, we’re delighted to be associated in another step-change in the airline industry’s connectivity story.

“This new development with Ku-band recognises the huge potential growth in mobile technology, which we are already seeing on a day-to-day basis with products like the iPhone. Soon the ability to use this technology will be second nature in the air as well.”

Frankfurt, Germany – October 12, 2009 – Today, Lufthansa announced the return of in-flight passenger connectivity with the re-launch of their FlyNet branded broadband internet service. FlyNet will utilize the Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic) Global Communications Suite. Lufthansa aims to equip a major part of its long-range fleet with FlyNet within the first year of operation.

The Panasonic Global Communications Suite consists of the eXConnect broadband service, the eXPhone GSM service, and the Panasonic Airborne Television Network.

Panasonic’s eXConnect is designed to provide global, two-way broadband connectivity to support a wide range of passenger and crew applications, including Internet access, voice, data, and the ability to monitor and transmit airline operational data in real time at speeds of up to 50 Mbps to the aircraft.

The eXPhone solution allows passengers to use their mobile (cell) phones to make voice calls, send SMS text messages, or utilize data services in-flight, virtually anywhere in the world. The eXPhone system is designed to be flexible, giving the airline full control over the services offered with the ability to restrict certain services when appropriate.

The Panasonic Airborne Television Network is a revolutionary approach to live, in-flight television. This proprietary, dedicated network is provided by Panasonic to offer a global, synchronized viewing experience with live news, sports, financial and special events to airline passengers. Panasonic has established licensing relationships directly with top content providers to provide the programming for the service.

Panasonic has assembled and integrated a world class team of technology and service providers to collectively deliver the Global Communications Suite.

The eXPhone system and service are provided in conjunction with AeroMobile, the award-winning provider of in-flight mobile communication services and technology.

MTN Satellite Communications is the leading global service provider of at-sea communications, connectivity and content services and will provide the Ku band satellite network services for Panasonic’s Global Communications Service business. More details about the satellite network will be provided in the coming weeks.

Panasonic has contracted with EMS Technologies’ Defense & Space Division, to provide the advanced dual-panel, satellite-tracking antenna, developed collaboratively by Panasonic and EMS. This unique design delivers greater performance and global coverage, especially at lower latitudes such as near the equator. The antenna’s dual polarization receive capability, unique to the EMS Technologies antenna system, doubles the available receive bandwidth.

Panasonic licenses iDirect’s state of the art satellite IP router technology as a core component of the Panasonic eXConnect in-flight satellite transmission platform. iDirect is a world leader in satellite-based IP communications technology. iDirect’s innovative spread spectrum waveform diffuses the transmission of satellite bandwidth while maintaining a high data rate, which dramatically conserves satellite space segment and lowers bandwidth costs for airlines.

In November of this year, Panasonic is installing their eXConnect system on a private Boeing Business Jet (Boeing 737) to conduct the initial flight tests. Additional information on this aircraft and customer will be announced in Orlando, Florida at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Annual Conference October 20, 2009.

“We are thrilled to be working with Lufthansa as our launch customer of the eXConnect broadband service.” states Paul Margis, Chief Executive Officer. “Panasonic had already assembled the best of class suppliers to provide the full range of services in the Panasonic Global Communications Suite – and now, in Lufthansa, we have the perfect launch customer to match.”

East Meadow, NY, Oct. 12, 2009 — In mid-2010, when Lufthansa reintroduces FlyNet, its satellite-based Internet on-board service, the airline’s customers will once again be able to communicate above the clouds via broadband Internet. In addition to the wireless Internet access, the newly improved service will permit inflight data transfer over standard GSM/GPRS mobile networks. This will enable Lufthansa passengers in the future to also send text messages by mobile phone and transfer data via smartphones such as PDA, iPhone or BlackBerry devices. Together with its new business partner, Panasonic, Lufthansa plans to equip a major part of its long-range fleet with FlyNet within the first year of operation.

An innovator in inflight Internet service, Lufthansa’s FlyNet relaunch will again position the airline as a world leader in on-board connectivity and as one of the only carriers to offer a broadband service on inter-continental routes. “In terms of personal communications, Lufthansa customers can look forward to superior inflight service,” said Lufthansa CEO and Chairman Wolfgang Mayrhuber. “On long-haul routes, we offer business travellers, in particular, a range of communication options on par with those available at land-based hotspots or premium hotels.” FlyNet thus rounds out the communications services available to Lufthansa passengers throughout the entire travel chain.

“We are thrilled to be working with Lufthansa as the launch customer for Panasonic’s new broadband service, exConnect,” said Paul Margis, CEO of Panasonic Avionics Corporation. “Lufthansa’s previous experience with passenger connectivity makes them the ideal launch customer for the eXConnect service. Lufthansa was a true pioneer with their FlyNet branded service. We are proud to bring FlyNet back to their passengers.”

Lufthansa is focusing on providing high bandwidth, which is essential for unrestricted web surfing, email/file transfer including attachments, and the use of a Virtual Private Network (VPN). In addition, this quality bandwidth will enhance the possibility of additional operational applications such as telemedicine, in which a patient’s vitals can be quickly transmitted to a ground station.

FlyNet is impressively user-friendly. Passengers with a Wifi or GSM/GPRS-compatible device can log on from any point in the aircraft cabin. Depending on the device they are using (i.e. a laptop or a smartphone), passengers can choose to be billed via a mobile service provider or pay by credit card. Various price models are planned – ranging from a one-hour flat rate to a monthly flat rate. Passengers should also be able to redeem award miles for use of the Wifi Internet connections. The exact price for specific products will be announced at a later date.

With this new service, Lufthansa is building on its positive experience with Lufthansa FlyNet. On January 15, 2003, the world’s first scheduled flight providing broadband Internet access on-board took off via a Lufthansa commercial flight. From May 2004 until the end of 2006, when the service was then withdrawn by Lufthansa’s former partner Connexion by Boeing, broadband wireless Internet connectivity gained in popularity and the technology proved highly reliable. By that time 69 of Lufthansa’s long-range aircraft were equipped with FlyNet, making the Lufthansa fleet the largest Internet-enabled fleet in the world, with about 30,000 users per month.