In-flight entertainment and communications specialist Panasonic Avionics has sought to expand its offering with the acquisition of AirDat’s real-time weather data and forecasting technology. Financial details were not disclosed.
AirDat’s core…
In-flight entertainment and communications specialist Panasonic Avionics has sought to expand its offering with the acquisition of AirDat’s real-time weather data and forecasting technology. Financial details were not disclosed.
AirDat’s core technology is its Tropospheric Airborne Meteorological Data Reporting (TAMDAR) sensor, a device designed to collect sophisticated weather data from the atmosphere during the flight of an aircraft. The data will be transmitted over Panasonic’s global Ku-band aeronautical network and via the Iridium satellite network in real time to the AirDat operations centre for analysis, distribution and assimilation into high-resolution models.
Paul Margis, president and CEO of Panasonic Avionics, commented: “Many industries such as aviation, energy, insurance and government will benefit from using the highly accurate real-time analysis of weather that will come from coupling AirDat technology with Panasonic’s global aviation connectivity solutions”
Panasonic Avionics’ Ku-band network is delivered through a series of capacity leasing agreements with FSS operators such as Intelsat, Asiasat and Eutelsat. The company recently signed a new deal with the latter for a full transponder on the Southern Pacific Beam of Eutelsat-172A, formerly known as GE-23 prior to Eutelsat’s June 2012 acquisition.
The deal is part of a commercial agreement between Panasonic and teleport operator Australian Satellite Communications (ASC). This expands on a previous deal but significantly increases the bandwidth requirements.
Meanwhile, Panasonic’s sister company Panasonic Corporation of North America has snapped up Aupeo, a Berlin-based content and audio streaming service and technology platform provider, for an undisclosed amount.
Panasonic plans to roll Aupeo into its Automotive Systems business and will provide a direct challenge to satellite radio broadcaster SiriusXM.
Formed in 2008 and financed by venture capital, Aupeo is a personalized internet radio service that has expanded its offering to include other personalised media content.
Panasonic Automotive Systems and Aupeo initially announced a strategic collaboration back in January 2013.
