FINAL REPORT - Stakeholders - Ofcom

links with non-safety critical services and the general reluctance in the industry to
consider such a route. A further disadvantage is that such links provide only a low data
rate downlink.
5.9.2.1 AMSS
One example of a future service is a development of AMSS.
Inmarsat have recently introduced the Swift64 high speed data link for cabin services
(not ATM). This service should provide channels with up to 64 kbit/s, although in trials 46-
57 kbps was obtained.
Honeywell and Thales have a prototype Inmarsat-approved Swift64 system which is due
for production in 2003. The airborne system consists of a new HS-600 unit added on to a
conventional Honeywell MCS-6000 Inmarsat system. The system is currently
asynchronous, with 64 kbps (Swift64) data delivered to the aircraft and a Ku-band link for
data delivery from the aircraft.
The next generation Inmarsat-4 satellites are due for launch next year. These satellites
will be able to support broadband communications including 3G with channel rates in
excess of 420 kbits/s.
5.9.2.2 Boeing Connexion System
The Boeing Connexion system is a satellite-based data communication system that will
provide broadband data services such as internet, TV, and radio to aircraft using leased
Ku-band satellite transponders. The system will operate in the 14.0-14.5 GHz band for
aircraft-to-space links and in portions of the 11.2-12.75 GHz band (depending on region)
for space-to-aircraft links.
The system will offer uplink rates of up to 10 Mbps per aircraft, and downlink data rates of
up to 1.5 Mbps. Thus the system is highly asymmetrical, the uplink offering a far higher
throughput than the downlink. Airplane passengers will access the system using a laptop
computer, PDA or seatback terminal.
Boeing has total control over the system. The system gained FAA certification in May
2002, and certification for use in UK airspace in July 2002.
It may be difficult to modify the Boeing system to provide ATS services, with the required
guarantees of reliability, availability, safety, and security.
The proposed system is composed of four segments:
• a space segment which consists of leased FSS transponders
• an airborne terminal segment that consists of satellite terminals installed on
multiple aircraft
• a ground earth station segment which consists of one or more FSS Earth
stations
• a Network Operations Center (NOC) segment that controls the aggregate
emissions of the system in order to prevent interference to other co-frequency
systems.
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