Page 13 - AAA March / April 2024 Digital Magazine | GBP
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INTERVIEW
Growing Need for
Wi-Fi Connectivity
Onboard Aircraft:
Nicolas Silvester, Regional
Director, Airline Sales APAC, Intelsat
icolas Silvester, who in discussing and further and beverage online,
is regional director understanding how they can in-flight shopping,
N of Intelsat’s airline introduce Wi-Fi connectivity
business in APAC, says in an on board their aircraft. And I things like that.
exclusive interview with Atul guess there are different fla-
Chandra that there is grow- vours of that, whether that be So, there’s many different
ing demand among airlines to Full Service Carriers looking aspects to it depending on
offer onboard Wi-Fi services to provide free Wi-Fi even to what the airlines are looking
to their customers. To aid in their high value passengers or to provide. But certainly, I’d
these efforts, Intelsat has a new Business Class passengers or say in summary, pretty much
Electronically Steered Array perhaps even all of the passen- all airlines now are seeking to
(ESA) antenna that allows gers on board. That’s certainly understand in flight connectivity
aircraft to be connected to both a trend we’re seeing. better and implement services
GEO (Geostationary) satellites sooner rather than later.
and also LEO (Low Earth Orbit) At the other end of Q How do you view in-flight
satellites, allowing for high- the scale, Low Cost connectivity transition-
speed streaming services to be ing in terms of passenger
provided on aircraft. Carriers are looking preferences?
to drive revenue and
Q Please provide some loyalty by connecting We are seeing a shift in con-
insights into market trends that with their passengers tent onboard the aircraft. We
you are observing from airlines through serving food are now delivering services to
and passengers? airlines that actually are fast
enough and reliable
There is huge demand for enough to support
connectivity in gen- streaming services
eral and of course, onboard the aircraft.
this overflows into This allows passen-
passengers wanting gers to log into and enjoy
to be connected their own content as they
throughout their would at home rather than
journey. Certainly, watching the content that
post pandemic we’ve the airlines provide through
seen a lot of airlines, their traditional seatback
either introducing Wi-Fi In-Flight Entertainment
services or certainly interested ESA-diagram (IFE).
ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE MARCH - APRIL 2024 | 13
