Innovative Cooperation Brought New Aviation Communication

1　 Background

U.S. AirCell was founded in 90s, specializing in avian communication system research, development and services. As mainstream products of U.S. AirCell, aircraft-carried satellite communication transceiver and wireless phone are applied in multiple large airlines. They provide convenient communication services for avian passengers in the country and have been installed on over forty types of aircrafts.

U.S. AireCell obtained the exclusive service right of air-to-ground communication. However, direct air-to-ground communication involves many new high-end technologies such as customized special frequency segment, fast switching of ground site station system, and Doppler effects caused by flight To solve these problems a suitable equipment provider is needed to work together with, to implement development and research.

The sincerity and trust for each other between U.S. AirCell and ZTE finally made them determine the cooperation. They decided to together develop and research direct air-to-ground communication customized solution. Thus the two parties explored their innovative cooperation.

2　 ZTE Solutions

U.S. AirCell adopted ground site station to provide EVDO data service for passengers on aircraft: firstly it provided EVDO data link for aircraft via ground site station; and then provided wireless LAN data service in the compartment via WIFI on the aircraft. The fast customized ATG (Air-To-Ground) EVDO data network of ZTE satisfy the requirements of U.S. AirCell’s large capacity data service. They could provide the passengers with high quality data service, improve its competitiveness, and consolidate its leading position in U.S. avian field.

As the first application of ATG (Air-To-Ground) EVDO data network, ZTE took half year to complete system requirements analysis, design, R&D, network construction and commercial deployment. This network is not only the first application of CDMA technology in high air, filling the blank of ground system in avian communication field, and substituting traditional avian satellite communication, but also introduces communication innovation of a new era for airline industry.

In honor of ZTE’s development of AirCell’s GoGo WiFi for the Sky service, ZTE and AirCell have been selected to receive the 2008 3G CDMA Industry Achievement Award for Network Technology Innovation.

ZTE Solution Highlights：

●  Fast customization capability

●  Keeping good relationship with chip provider Qualcomm

●  Long-term on-site support

3　 AirCell Customer Benefits

●  Cost-effective compared with satellite communication

●  Providing flight passengers with high quality data service

4　 Customer Quote

"ZTE has performed well in many ways"

"Without exception, the people of ZTE have worked hard and achieved much on behalf of this project."

———AirCell’s VP