SwiftBroadband
SATCOM L-BAND
Service Launch
2009
Coverage
Global
Speed
Up to 2.8 Mbps
Plan Cost
$7K- $40K
Hardware Weight
44.5 lbs
Inmarsat was set up by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 1979 to provide a satellite communications network that would protect the lives of mariners anywhere at sea, this service was quickly extended to aviation where Inmarsat is the leader of the cockpit safety communications. Inmarsat currently owns and operates 13 satellites providing seamless global coverage.
The SwiftBroadband (SBB) service operates over Inmarsat’s I-4 L-band satellite constellation, the service supports text, high-quality voice calls, email, internet access, and mobile data applications anywhere in the world. Flying on over 4,000 aircraft worldwide, SBB is the most widely used connectivity service in business aviation.
SBB network offers seamless global coverage and unrivaled satellite and ground network availability of over 99.9 percent
SwiftBroadband operates over Inmarsat’s I-4 satellites constellation, covering all major aviation routes, and every hidden island getaway, worldwide.
Each I-4 satellite combines 228 spot beams with 19 wide beams, capable of providing up to four channels of 432Kbps to a High Gain Antenna. The three I-4 satellites are complemented by Alphasat, which provides additional capacity of over 33% of the I-4 coverage area. Inmarsat is still highly committed to the L-band services, with two Inmarsat-6 satellites being constructed by Airbus Defence and Space. scheduled for launch in 2021. The first is scheduled for launch in 2021.
Swiftbroadband Satcom hardware is available from four avionics manufacturers: Thales, Cobham, Honeywell, and Collins Aerospace.
The service data speed is dependent on the category of the installed antenna:
The service data speed is dependent on the type of antenna installation:
- High Gain Antenna (HGA) – 432KBPS per Channel
- Intermediate Gain Antenna (IGA) – 332KBPS per Channel
- Low Gain Antenna (LGA) – 200KBPS per Channel
In an HGA or IGA installation, up to four channels can be bonded to increase the achievable speeds by four.
Helicopter
All
Turboprops
All
JETS
Light
All
Medium
All
Large
All
Bizliners
All
