Panasonic Avionics is working with South Korean satellite communications firm Intellian Technologies to enhance airline wifi services.

Intellian provides satellite communication antennas and ground gateways. It is announcing a high-performance, cost-effective low Earth orbit (LEO)-only terminal system designed to connect to Eutelsat’s OneWeb LEO network.

The terminal system features Intellian’s LEO-only aviation antenna, seamlessly integrating the modem and controller in a design that requires no radome. 

This user terminal leverages advances in electronically steered array (ESA) technology, design and integration to deliver cost savings without any sacrifice to performance, weight or ease of installation.

Panasonic will use Intellian’s aviation antenna to deliver a faster, more reliable and future-proof connectivity to its airline customers with up to 195Mbit/s and less than 100ms of latency.

This joins Panasonic’s broader portfolio, complementing its existing multi-orbit antenna, and reinforcing its commitment to providing network- and orbit-agnostic in-flight connectivity (IFC) tailored to various needs.

“Our new terminal system is a game-changer for airlines,” said John Wade, vice president of connectivity at Panasonic Avionics. “It blends best-in-class performance with unmatched resiliency and the reliability our customers expect. I firmly believe that this blend of price point and performance specifications, unmatched by any other provider, will fundamentally change the way airlines use in-flight connectivity.”

At launch, the terminal system will be available to Panasonic’s current and new airline customers for retrofit installations beginning in late 2026. Intended to reduce aircraft downtime, the terminal system can be installed overnight.

“As a global leader in connectivity, Intellian has built its reputation on delivering innovative, reliable technologies that empower customers across land, sea and enterprise markets,” said Eric Sung, CEO of Intellian Technologies. “Entering the aviation sector with Panasonic Avionics marks a natural and strategic extension of our portfolio. Together, we are redefining in-flight connectivity, combining our proven expertise with Panasonic’s leadership to deliver unmatched value and performance for airlines worldwide.”

Its modular design, which is central to Panasonic’s approach to hardware, enables easy upgrades of core components as hardware and network enhancements become available. It also enables simultaneous multi-constellation operation for airlines and can be used to supplement their existing Panasonic in-flight connectivity service.

“I expect many airlines to adopt a multi-terminal approach and, with Panasonic Avionics, they can quickly and affordably add this terminal to any connectivity-equipped aircraft to immediately offer multi-orbit capabilities,” said Wade. “This approach will not only improve passenger satisfaction, drive net promoter scores, enhance loyalty and increase revenue, it also will deliver the peace of mind our airline customers expect from connectivity that is cost-effective, resilient and eliminates dark flights.”

The LEO-only product is less than half the weight of typical multi-orbit and GEO terminals, helping airlines achieve their sustainability goals by reducing fuel burn.

The terminal system delivers self-service control of connectivity through Panasonic’s Wifi Portal Studio and Wifi Reporting. The terminal system can also be combined with Panasonic’s wifi roaming agreements and OneMedia Advertising, which can increase service adoption, reduce airline operational costs of delivering wifi service and enable attractive passenger amenities such as free IFC.

Panasonic Avionics (www.panasonic.aero) is headquartered in Irvine, California, and, with over 3500 employees, operates in 50 locations around the globe.

Since its founding in 2004, Intellian (www.intelliantech.com) has delivered end-to-end systems tailored to the evolving needs of the mobility, energy, defence, government and enterprise sectors.