Hughes Network Systems, LLC, an EchoStar company (Nasdaq: SATS), and Gogo (Nasdaq: GOGO) are celebrating significant advancements in their partnership to revolutionize in-flight connectivity for the business jet market. The companies have achieved on-time delivery of the Gogo half-duplex (HDX) and full-duplex (FDX) Aviation electronically steerable antenna (ESA) terminals, marking a major milestone in their collaboration.
This achievement is further bolstered by the recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval of Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) for the Gogo Galileo FDX terminal on Boeing BBJ aircraft and Bombardier Challenger 600 series jets. With a growing portfolio of STCs, the partnership is poised to deliver high-speed, low-latency connectivity to over 9,000 business jets worldwide.
Transforming In-Flight Connectivity
“With two Hughes ESA models for Gogo now in production and flying, business jet operators across the full range of aircraft types can fully leverage the advantages of the Eutelsat OneWeb Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network to stay connected,” said Reza Rasoulian, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Aviation Business Unit at Hughes. “Gogo’s expert validation of our ESA technology underscores our industry-leading capabilities, and we’re excited to support the business aviation sector with robust, scalable solutions that ensure high-throughput, low-latency, and uninterrupted in-flight connectivity.”
The HDX and FDX ESAs, developed through the Hughes-Gogo collaboration, are integral to the Gogo Galileo system. These terminals are designed for seamless integration across a wide range of aircraft, including business, VVIP, Head of State, and military/government platforms. Engineered for durability, the Hughes ESA features a design with no moving parts, simplifying installation and maintenance. The terminals are manufactured at Hughes’ AS9100-certified facility in Germantown, Maryland, ensuring they meet the rigorous demands of aviation.
Advancing Connectivity with FDX ESA
Hughes has commenced shipments of its Gogo FDX ESA terminals, which are tailored for larger airframes and higher data demands. Building on the proven architecture of the HDX, the FDX introduces full-duplex operation, enabling support for more data-intensive applications in business aviation. Hughes is also developing a Commercial Aviation ESA, leveraging the same technology to meet the performance and certification requirements of commercial airline operations.
“Hughes is a highly capable and dependable technology and manufacturing partner,” said Chris Moore, CEO of Gogo. “Their on-time delivery of both the HDX and FDX Electronically Steerable Antenna (ESA) systems has been instrumental in advancing our certification efforts. We’ve successfully obtained 19 STCs for HDX with another 21 in development, and now with the first two STCs for FDX and eight more underway, we are enabling scalable deployment across multiple airframes and accelerating our connectivity roadmap.”
A Legacy of Innovation in Aviation Connectivity
With over 20 years of experience in aviation connectivity, Hughes has established itself as a leader in providing innovative in-flight solutions. The company's technology has been validated through extensive flight tests, demonstrating its ability to deliver high-performance, end-to-end connectivity for the aviation sector.
Gogo, a leading provider of in-flight connectivity services, continues to meet the performance and cost needs of business aviation and government markets. Its products and services are installed on thousands of aircraft, ranging from turboprops to the largest global jets, and are utilized by fractional ownership operators, charter operators, corporate flight departments, and military customers.
About Hughes
Hughes Network Systems, LLC, an EchoStar company, provides broadband equipment and services, managed networking solutions, and end-to-end network operations for millions of customers worldwide. Its flagship internet service, HughesNet(R), connects millions across the Americas, while the Hughes JUPITER(TM) System powers internet access for tens of millions more globally. Hughes has been a pioneer in in-flight connectivity, bringing video and broadband to thousands of aircraft over the past two decades. For more information, visit www.hughes.comor follow HughesConnects on Twitter and LinkedIn.
About Gogo
Gogo is a leading provider of in-flight connectivity services, offering solutions for business aviation and government markets. Its products are installed on thousands of aircraft and serve a diverse range of customers, including fractional ownership operators, charter operators, corporate flight departments, and military users. For more information, visit www.gogoair.com.
