In a fast-moving global aviation industry where seconds of downtime can disrupt passengers and delay operations, maintaining seamless connectivity is paramount. SITA has launched a new satellite-based communications service to ensure that airports and airlines remain connected — even in the most extreme or infrastructure-limited conditions.
SITA Managed Satellites is now live in over 130 countries, delivering secure, high-bandwidth, low-latency communications via low earth orbit (LEO) satellite networks. The fully managed service supports primary, secondary, and emergency connectivity tailored specifically for the air transport sector — a game-changing solution for critical communications continuity.
Recent global events have demonstrated just how vulnerable traditional terrestrial and fibre-based networks can be. From earthquakes and extreme weather to fibre cuts and congestion, many airport operations — including those at major hubs — have faced outages or performance degradation at critical moments. SITA Managed Satellites addresses these risks directly, providing always-on, cost-effective communications that support operations during blackouts, disasters, and peak traffic periods.
Beyond bolstering resilience at existing airport facilities, the service extends connectivity to remote locations, aircraft maintenance hangars, cargo terminals, off-airport sites, and pop-up installations for seasonal routes or emergency response deployments.
“The quality and availability of the latest satellite technology means that it’s becoming a vital component within high availability networks,” said Martin Smillie, Senior Vice President, Communications and Data Exchange at SITA. “Airports, in particular, need new ways to ensure they can maintain critical operations in whatever circumstances they face – even when adverse incidents strike.”
SITA Managed Satellites provides full lifecycle support — including installation, maintenance, and 24/7 monitoring by SITA’s global team — and integrates with existing SITA connectivity services for a bundled, flexible approach to network resilience.
Key Features Include
- A secure, aviation-specific service compliant with industry regulations
- Global support across 130+ countries
- Proactive infrastructure monitoring to address issues before they impact operations
- Optional bundling with other SITA airport connectivity solutions
- Expert on-site services, from initial survey through to hardware replacement
Whether for continuity in the face of disasters or enabling communications at new or temporary sites, SITA Managed Satellites helps aviation stakeholders safeguard their operations and stay connected when it matters most.
SOURCE AND IMAGE: SITA
