Panasonic Avionics and Kymeta are to launch a new high-performance flat-panel Ku-band antenna for maritime markets. The technology could, in time, find its way to the inflight connectivity market.
The antennas are expected to go through prototype testing this year and be commercially available in 2017.
Unlike traditional maritime antennas, which weigh several hundred kilograms, require weeks of vessel downtime to install, and use mechanical components that can easily break and are difficult to maintain, Kymeta’s technology enables electronically-steered, lightweight, flat panel antennas that can acquire and track any satellite from any moving platform, anywhere in the world.
Panasonic will also purchase and distribute a new technology from Kymeta that combined multiple apertures into one antenna. This combining technology will give customers a more powerful antenna that ultimately will provide faster and more efficient connectivity.
Paul Margis, President and Chief Executive Officer of Panasonic Avionics, said: “This agreement is a perfect example of our commitment to bring broadband communications to a wide range of mobility markets.
“We believe this exciting breakthrough technology will enable rapid growth in many market segments, and we look forward to working with Kymeta to set a new standard in connectivity for merchant vessels, yachts, river cruises and other vessels.”
Kymeta mTenna
Dr. Nathan Kundtz, Chief Executive Officer of Kymeta, said: “Kymeta’s goal is to use our mTenna technology to help realise the power of a truly connected future for any platform that moves around the world, and this agreement is another major milestone towards that goal.
“We are excited to partner with Panasonic and help their maritime customers with higher speed internet connections for vessels anywhere in the world.”
The mTenna technology is of interest to the aviation industry where lightweight, low-profile and aerodynamic satellite antennas could save thousands in fuel costs.
Kymeta is already developing an mTenna for Inmarsat’s Ka-band Global Xpress (GX) inflight connectivity system. This will bring GX to smaller business aviation platforms that can’t use the tail-mounted Honeywell MCS-8200 antenna.
The small mTenna Ka-band terminal will bring connectivity to platforms that are too small for Honeywell’s JetWave fuselage- and tail-mounted antennas, including bizjets, small regional aircraft, private airplanes, and UAVs.
In December Kymeta also announced that it had completed successful initial tests of a Ku-band flat-panel antenna for Intelsat.
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