Communications company OneWeb is to bring high speed, low latency, reliable in-flight connectivity to business aviation users, creating a 'fit for business' cabin in the sky. Global services will begin in 2021, when the inflight service will connect unconnected routes, such as the Arctic, from the outset. Business jet fliers will be able to access all applications in the air.

Working with key industry partners, OneWeb pledges to deliver an affordable line-fit solution to the lightest of business jets through to large cabin VVIP airliners and new supersonic offerings. It claims its service will transform flight connectivity at a time when cabin connectivity is ranked a top priority for commercial operators and private jet buyers.

“Our vision for business aviation is fully customised, truly global, uninterrupted high-speed connectivity and we are building an eco-system for this sector,” says head of business aviation, government and maritime sectors Dylan Browne. “Business jet users want to make their time on board count. They need to be able to access the same tools in the sky as on the ground. OneWeb will make it possible for all the software applications used in an office to be available in the sky.”

When OneWeb goes live, passengers will be able to fully participate in necessary business operations such as multiple simultaneous uninterrupted live video conferences, access cloud solutions such as Office365, connect with Live TV, as well as content streaming Apps such as Netflix and Amazon Video, but also keep up to date with the family on FaceTime and WhatsApp.

OneWeb's solution comes from high performing, low latency, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites situated much closer to Earth, approximately 750 miles. Passengers connecting in-flight won't have to compete for their coverage in the traditional, larger 35,000 ft GEO (Geostationary) space, where transmission regularly drops out. A typical GEO satellite signal round-trip of nearly 45,000 miles on average means a network time delay of two seconds. GEOs also cannot serve the polar regions, where OneWeb plans to offer polar track coverage from day one.

OneWeb has been focused in the past months on growing its business aviation team and recently welcomed satellite mobility expert Carole Plessy, who brings 20 years of experience and previously headed product development at Inmarsat. She joins Ed Slater, who previously led airborne communication systems and planning for Air Force One during George W Bush and Barack Obama's presidential terms.

OneWeb's satellites are built in Florida by OneWeb Satellites, a joint venture between OneWeb and Airbus. OneWeb will deploy more than 30 satellites on a monthly basis starting December 2019, as it grows its constellation for full global coverage.