With a new generation of satellites coming, ushering in greater bandwidth capacity and new surveillance capability, Iridi-um Communications is aiming for an increasing share of the aviation market. But rather than compete for a piece of the airline-passenger connectivity business, the satellite operator is focused on satcom applications beyond the cabin. "We have a strategy of owning the cockpit long-term," says CEO Matt Desch. Inmarsat and Iridium are the only providers of certified satcom links for safety and operational services via the Aircraft Communication Addressing and Reporting System (Acars). But where Inmarsat is targeting passenger broadband with its new Global Xpress K_a-band geosynchronous-orbit (GEO) satellites, the Iridium Next low-Earth-orbit (LEO) constellation has pilots and maintainers in its sights.
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