SkyFive IFC China, SkyFive AG and Thales release a new ATG antenna for the Chinese market to flight testing

China has set out on an ambitious mission to connect their national skies with a high-performance Air-to-Ground (ATG) system. According to Valour Consultancy, there are over 4000 Chinese commercial aircraft today out of which only 5% are connected, which stands in stark contrast to China as the world’s largest market for terrestrial mobile services, surpassing 1 billion 5G connections in 2024 according to GSMA.

Given the high demand for extending broadband to the sky, ample radio spectrum was commissioned for ATG. SkyFive IFC China, SkyFive AG and Thales have teamed up to address this opportunity and designed an innovative passive aircraft antenna that caters to the specific ATGsystem requirements of the Chinese market. The first prototype of this antenna is now ready and qualified to be used for flight test campaigns.

Based on the results of flight testing, the antenna design will be further evolved towards the final commercial product, which will include functional and aerodynamic enhancements. Customers from China can see the ATG antenna prototype on the booths of SkyFive and Thales at Aircraft Interiors Expo, which takes place in Hamburg, Germany, from 28-30 May.

Li Kun, CEO of SkyFive IFC China, said: „China is an ideal market for ATG from all perspectives, and its size and currently low airline adoption of inflight connectivity justifies bespoke system development. Together with Thales and SkyFive AG, we are once more proving the immense performance and capacity gains that mobile technology introduces to aviation. “

Yves Ambiehl, Aerospace Communications Vice President Sales, BD & Marketing in Thales, said: “We’re excited to bring our unique expertise in antenna technology to SkyFive AG and SkyFive IFC China as a keystone of next generation Air To Ground inflight connectivity for China market. This 5G Air To Ground passive antenna will naturally complement our existing offering of 3G and 4G antennas.”