Satcom Direct
Coverage/Satellites: Partners with Viasat Inmarsat existing and future next-generation GX network. Intelsat FlexExec and FlexAir/EutelsatOneWeb/Iridium • Cabin and cockpit satcom services • Biz av/Government • SD Plane Simple Antenna Series and SDR Router family | Orbit/Operating Frequency Range: GEO Ku-band and Ka-band • LEO Ku-band and GEO L-band | Brands: Gogo/SD | Aircraft: All business aviation aircraft from light jets, super-mid to ultra-long range and executive airliners | Installers: Wide dealer network and MRO for business aviation and government.
1 - SD Plane Simple Ka-band terminal
Coverage:
Global
Satellites/Hardware Types:
Plane Simple Ka-Band terminal/Tail mount antenna and Satcom Direct Modem Unit SMU/Viasat GX satellites powering Inmarsat Jet ConneX, and Viasat next-generation satellites
Orbit/Operating Frequency Range for all Types:
GEO/Ka-band
Aircraft:
Mid to large-cabin and long-range up to exec airliners
Equipment price:
Depends on the customer’s requirements as each solution is tailored.
Installation cost:
Invariably part of an overhaul and not priced by SD
Download:
20Mbps
Upload:
N/A
Latency:
N/A
Monthly cost 20GB:
Customised solutions are bundled with many other products/services, so it is difficult to confirm fees.
Uncapped:
N/A
2 - SD Plane Simple Ku-band terminal
Coverage:
Global
Satellites/Hardware Types:
Plane Simple Ku-Band terminal/ Tail mount antenna and Satcom Direct Modem Unit SMU/Intelsat FlexExec GEO constellation
Orbit/Operating Frequency Range for all Types:
GEO/Ku-band
Aircraft:
Mid to large-cabin and long-range up to exec airliners
Equipment price:
Depends on the customer requirements as each solution is tailored.
Installation cost:
Invariably part of an overhaul and not priced by SD
Download:
25Mbps
Upload:
3Mbps
Latency:
N/A
Monthly cost 20GB:
Customised solutions bundled with many other products/services so difficult to confirm fees.
Uncapped:
N/A
3 - SD Plane Simple Electronically Steered Antenna
Coverage:
Global
Satellites/Hardware Types:
Flat panel fuselage mount phased array antenna and Satcom Direct Modem Unit SMU
Orbit/Operating Frequency Range for all Types:
Oneweb LEO/Ku-band
Aircraft:
From Phenom 300/Cessna CJ3 type up to exec airliner
Equipment price:
Depends on the customer requirements as each solution is tailored.
Installation cost:
Invariably part of an overhaul and not priced by SD
Download:
195Mbps
Upload:
36Mbps
Latency:
N/A
Monthly cost 20GB:
Customised solutions are bundled with many other products/services, so it is difficult to confirm fees.
Uncapped:
N/A
Formed in 1997, Satcom Direct is a leading supplier of integrated connectivity solutions
with proprietary technologies spanning business aviation, marine, government and telecoms sectors.
Its story in business aviation, which counts for about 80% of its revenue, began with Global Number One, a service which allows an aircraft to be called in-flight on its own unique number.
Now, Satcom Direct partners with leading satellite services, including Inmarsat, Viasat and Iridium, to provide high-speed connectivity via Ka- or Ku-band systems.
It also develops its own devices and terminals, such as the SD Plane Simple antenna system.
In December 2024, Gogo completed its acquisition of Satcom Direct for $375m, adding SD’s significant expertise in satellite connectivity to Gogo’s air-to-ground supremacy in North America.
Combining both systems into a hybrid or dual-dissimilar solution (for aircraft which can support two antennas) offers seamless connectivity and is increasingly attractive to aircraft owners and operators.
“The two separate systems (dual) on different networks (dissimilar) give customers access to multi-orbit, high-speed data networks and provide full linear redundancy from both an avionics and network perspective. When the electronic single antenna (ESA) comes to market it will also support dual dissimilar for mid-size jets to executive airliners too,” says Michael Skou Christensen, who moved across from chief commercial officer, Satcom Direct to the same role at Gogo.
For Gogo, the acquisition of Satcom Direct opens up a broader customer base, in terms of geography, pricing, flexibility and future-proofing.
Satcom Direct’s expertise in cybersecurity, flight operations software and data management services gives Gogo access to more than just connectivity.
