Economy, Science-Technology

Turkish firms, UK satellite company sign inflight pact

Under agreement, companies will work to develop integrated inflight connectivity and entertainment solutions

12.04.2018 - Update : 12.04.2018
Turkish firms, UK satellite company sign inflight pact

By Muhammed Ali Gurtas

ANKARA

A British satellite communications company and two leading Turkish firms have signed an agreement on developing integrated inflight connectivity and entertainment solutions, the firms announced today.

Under the memorandum of understanding signed late Wednesday, U.K.-based Inmarsat along with Turkish Technic -- an association of national flag carrier Turkish Airlines group companies -- and Ankara-based HAVELSAN will offer joint solutions for emerging markets integrating Inmarsat's inflight broadband solution with the Turkish side's inflight entertainment system, according to a statement from Turkish Technic.

"The Turkish aviation market is the center of growth in this region," said Ahmet Karaman, Turkish Technic’s CEO.

"We continue to make major strides in fulfilling the product and maintenance requirements of operators with high-end solutions," he added.

"Our inflight entertainment system developed with HAVELSAN provides a seamless travel experience and will become even more desirable to operators with the addition of Inmarsat inflight connectivity."

Ahmet Hamdi Atalay, CEO of defense and aerospace firm HAVELSAN, said: "Turkish Technic and HAVELSAN's inflight entertainment system will gain increased synergy and power through our collaboration with Inmarsat.

"From serving the fastest-growing aviation market of the world, in Turkey, the system is now a global product."

Philip Balaam, the president of Inmarsat Aviation, said that Inmarsat looks forward to joining forces with two leading Turkish firms "to provide airlines with a truly world-class integrated offering that combines our key strengths."

"This region is home to one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world and offers significant opportunities for inflight connectivity and entertainment providers," Balaam added.

Turkish Airlines group company Turkish Technic is one of the world's leading aviation services providers -- offering comprehensive maintenance, repair, overhaul, modification, and reconfiguration services with its staff of around 7,500.

Aside from its engineering and maintenance activities, the company also supports aircraft operators and owners globally with encompassing component pooling, design, and certification and production services.

HAVELSAN is mainly operating in the fields of command control and defense systems, training and simulation technologies, information and communication technologies, plus homeland security and cyber-security solutions with its more than 1,400 expert staff and six facilities in Turkey and the United States.

Inmarsat, a leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services founded in 1979, provides voice and high-speed data communications to governments, enterprises and other organizations, with a range of services that can be used on land, at sea, or in the air. 

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