Commercial IFC Antennas
ThinKom Solutions, Inc.
ThinKom's ThinAir family of low-profile phased-array in-flight connectivity (IFC) antennas that provide high-capacity satellite broadband connectivity for commercial aircraft across multiple orbits.
Key figurescomparable across the catalogue
- Data rate
- 800 Mbps
Normalised to common units so this product can be compared with others in its category. The supplier's own wording is below.
As published by the supplier
- Orbit compatibility
- Multi-Orbit — switches seamlessly between LEO, MEO, GEO and HEO with the same antenna
- Downlink data rate
- Up to 800 Mbps
- Uplink data rate
- Up to 200 Mbps
- Scan performance
- Superior low elevation scan performance over any other phased array antenna, allowing for high-latitude GEO operation
- Efficiency
- Significantly more efficient than any other phased array of the same size
- Reliability
- Highest guaranteed antenna MTBF on the market
- Motor type
- High-torque brushless DC motors, no contacting parts, enables rapid satellite switching
- RF layers
- Three entirely passive RF layers, increasing efficiency and reducing prime power
- Electronics location
- Key electronics hosted in the cabin for improved reliability
- Profile
- Low profile, streamlined shape — lowest drag phased array on the market
About
ThinKom’s Commercial IFC Antennas (ThinAir product line) are low-profile phased-array satcom terminals installed under an aircraft radome to provide high-capacity broadband connectivity to passengers in flight and on the tarmac. The antennas use high-torque brushless DC motors with no contacting parts, increasing reliability and enabling rapid switching between satellites. Three of the antenna’s layers are entirely passive RF layers, which increases efficiency and reduces the prime power required. Key electronics are hosted inside the cabin rather than under the radome, which improves reliability. The antenna’s inherent low profile and streamlined shape give it the lowest drag of any phased array antenna on the market. The system can switch seamlessly between LEO, MEO, GEO and HEO satellite constellations using the same antenna, supports high data throughput of up to 800 Mbps downlink and 200 Mbps uplink, and offers superior low-elevation scan performance versus other phased arrays, enabling high-latitude GEO operation. It is described as significantly more efficient than any other phased array of the same size and as having the highest guaranteed antenna MTBF on the market. Commercial airlines worldwide use these antennas under the radome to deliver in-flight connectivity to millions of passengers, with the product family including variants such as ThinAir Nexus, ThinAir Ka2517, ThinAir Ka1717, ThinAir Ku3030 and ThinAir Plus.
Documentation
No public datasheet yet — request the datasheet / ICD from the supplier.