Viasat and China Satcom set to serve IFC needs in China airspace

Passengers on Viasat IFC equipped aircraft flying into and out of Chinese airspace could soon be offered in-flight connectivity services following the entry into operation of China Satellite Communications’ Ka-band ChinaSat-16 satellite system.

With the network deployment now complete, tested and operational, Viasat and China Satcom are well-positioned to meet the growing IFC demands in China.

“Working with China Satcom, we have achieved a great milestone— delivering strong customer performance gains in terms of network speed and reliability at any phase of a flight, which provides an on-the-ground internet experience even when in-flight,” said Don Buchman, Viasat’s vice president and general manager, Commercial Aviation. “The effort committed to by both teams has been tremendous and showcases the capabilities of Viasat’s industry-leading technology with China Satcom’s satellite capacity.”

Viasat’s agreement with partner China Satcom specifically covers commercial aviation IFC. In partnership, each company maintains its own intellectual property and will operate its equipment using a multi-layered approach to network services.