Satcom Direct, (SD) has become the newest Value Added Manufacturer (VAM) and service provider for Iridium Certus aviation products. SD will design and manufacture new terminals for compatibility with the Iridium Certus service, while also providing the service direct to the business aviation community. The new products and services are being added to the SD Connectivity portfolio, integrating with the company’s existing technology and software value-adds to enhance the end user experience.
Iridium Certus will integrate with existing SD hardware and software, including the SDR Series and SD Hub Series of cabin routers, as well as the SD Pro platform, to provide customers with features and capabilities like real-time data analytics, cyber security, account management and more. The partnership will also help extend the reach of SD’s existing customer base by offering fully global L-band broadband coverage, while creating a complete, end-to-end customer experience for aviators.
“Due to the global nature of our business, adding Iridium Certus to our portfolio, from both a hardware and a service standpoint, is a natural fit,” said SD VP of strategy Dylan Browne. “Not only will Iridium Certus integrate directly with our existing platform and equipment, it opens a new era of possibilities for our business aviation customers.”
Iridium Certus aviation customers will gain access to smaller hardware, faster speeds, competitive price packages and unmatched global coverage. The service will soon deliver the fastest L-band broadband speeds on the market and provide data speed options of up to 704 Kbps, and eventually as high as approximately 1.4 Mbps. For Iridium Certus aviation applications, commercial service introduction is expected in 2019, after completion of in-flight trials.
“It’s an exciting time for Iridium, and especially for the aviation line of business,” said Bryan Hartin, executive vice president, sales and marketing at Iridium. “With every leading VAM and service provider we add, the need for Iridium Certus is validated, continuing our strong momentum. Between the upcoming completion of the Iridium NEXT launch campaign and the beginning of the initial flight trials, the coming months are very promising.”
