Airbus is further enriching its connectivity offers both in line-fit and retrofit, by selecting Zodiac Inflight Innovations (Zii), as lead supplier, to provide a new complementary “High Bandwidth Connectivity” (HBC) system. Named RAVE Broadband, it uses the Inmarsat “Global Xpress” *Ka-Band satellite network providing worldwide coverage. It will enable internet access, mobile telephony services and support applications evolutions for the A320, A330, & A380 aircraft.

With this new BFE option, Airbus aircraft will offer airlines the most comprehensive choice of connectivity solutions: They can now choose from four different suppliers (Panasonic, Thales, Airbus, Zii) and three different technologies (*L-band/SBB, Ku-Band, and Ka-Band) across the Airbus family. The first certification of this new Airbus HBC product offer is planned for 2016 and will deploy rapidly across A320, A330, & A380 aircraft families. This selection of Zii is the first step of Airbus' HBC approach and will be followed by more HBC offerings in the near future.