Ericsson, Panasonic To Launch 5G Network In Flights

Ericsson and Panasonic Avionics Corporation have announced plans to launch a 5G network to be used in flights.

Ericsson, in a statement, said its core network as a service solution would be live to support connectivity services across multiple markets served by Panasonic.

It said the 5G-ready solution would deliver a richer connected experience for commercial aircraft passengers and airlines

According to the statement, Ericsson’s Core Network will help Panasonic and its subsidiary, AeroMobile, which is a global GSMA telecoms operator, to provide data, voice and messaging services to the millions of airline passengers that use the services in-flight.

It said the collaboration between Ericsson, Panasonic and AeroMobile started in 2016 and was now fully operational to deliver services to Panasonic customers worldwide.

The statement read in part, “As part of Panasonic’s initiative to bring a superior connected experience onboard commercial aircraft, Panasonic and Ericsson have seamlessly migrated the existing service operating across a global fleet of aircraft onto the core network, delivered as a service while maintaining network performance and customer experience.

“Every passenger, whose mobile service provider has a roaming agreement with AeroMobile, can use the service, which is supported by mobile operators across the globe and delivered in-flight to more than 20 of Panasonic’s global commercial airline customers.”

The statement added that the geo-redundant solution was delivered through Ericsson’s ground-breaking core network as a service and includes virtualized network applications such as packet core, unified data management, mediation, and mobile switching delivered on Ericsson Network Functions Virtualization Infrastructure.

The Chief Executive Officer, AeroMobile, Kevin Rogers, said the company’s partnership with Ericsson and the technology provided would allow them to better serve the communication needs of passengers and airline customers.

He stated that the solution would also enable the company to grow its footprint and expand into other services that would offer a richer experience for passengers and operational efficiencies for airline customers.

“We are looking forward to continuing our exciting collaboration with Ericsson,” he said.

The Head, Customer Unit, UK and Ireland, Ericsson, Marielle Lindgren, said, “Panasonic Avionics is the first customer on Ericsson’s newly introduced Core Network as a service solution.”― Punchng