Thales to Launch In-Flight Connectivity Service by Year-End, Following FCC OK

Thales' FlytLive Ka-band in-flight connectivity service should be commercially available by year's end, now that the company has FCC authorization for its airborne terminals communicating with the EchoStar XVII, EchoStar XIX, AMC-15 and AMC-16, Thales said in a news release Thursday. The International Bureau approved Thales' application this month. Thales said it seeks other regulatory approvals in the Americas. It said the SES-17 satellite, which is being designed for aeronautical connectivity, will join the FlytLive network after its 2020 launch.