Honeywell, Viasat Prove Fastest In-Flight L-Band Connectivity With SwiftJet Service

PHOENIX, May 28, 2024 –Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) and Viasat, a global leader in satellite communications, today announced the success of recent over-the-air in-flight testing for SwiftJet, Viasat’s fastest ever L-band connectivity service for the business aviation industry, enabled through a simple Honeywell terminal upgrade.

The testing successfully demonstrated four channel aggregation over Viasat’s satellites and radio access network (RAN) by using the Honeywell HD-710 multi-channel satellite communications solution to achieve stable, optimal data transmission speeds for Viasat’s SwiftJet service.

Throughout the testing period, performance was consistently robust and reliable, including through spot beam transitions that maximize the available frequency of satellite transmissions by concentrating a satellite signal over a limited geographic area on Earth. SwiftJet met performance expectations both while in flight and while transitioning spot beams across the global footprint of Viasat’s L-band satellite network.

SwiftJet will enter commercial service later this year, offering seamless global coverage and ensuring passengers can stay connected with colleagues, friends and family wherever they fly. SwiftJet will provide passengers with the ability to communicate over email, text and video calls, browse the internet and enjoy streaming services while in-flight.

“SwiftJet’s results represent a major leap forward for L-band connectivity. Honeywell and Viasat have now proven the technology from end-to-end across the satellite network, giving our customers confidence to proceed with SwiftJet commercial deployment and entry into service by the end of the year,” said Mark Goodman, Sr. Director of Product Management, Honeywell Aerospace. “Existing customers of Viasat’s SwiftBroadband connectivity service will benefit from SwiftJet’s advanced speeds by making an easy and straightforward upgrade to their existing Honeywell L-band terminal, without having to change any wiring or antenna hardware.”

“SwiftJet has rewritten the rules of what’s possible with L-band connectivity for business aviation. It has unlocked previously unachievable capabilities so passengers can stay in touch, in control and entertained, wherever they fly, from the busiest airspace to the most remote locations,” said Melinda Janda, Vice President of Business Aviation Commercial Strategy, Viasat. “We’re delighted with the results of recent testing, which proved we can even stream high-definition videos and conduct video calls. These positive results not only bring us one step closer to SwiftJet’s entry into service, but also underscore Viasat and Honeywell’s shared commitment to increase the capability of our customer’s hardware after they’ve invested in our solutions.”

SwiftJet has been engineered for today’s applications that demand faster connection speeds, combined with L-band’s characteristic resilience, security and high availability. It will offer maximum speeds of 2.6 Mbps, up to six times faster than Viasat’s existing L-band business aviation connectivity service, SwiftBroadband, through an upgrade to Honeywell's existing terminals, including the HD-710, HSD-440, HSD-400, and Aspire 400. These terminals are commonly found on Gulfstream, Dassault, and Embraer platforms. SwiftJet is also available as a new installation, following a similarly quick and convenient process as all Honeywell L-band terminals.

The increased connection speeds enabled by SwiftJet will be available on monthly data plans. The operator does not need to lease capacity and does not need to pay per minute of use. The service and Honeywell L-band terminal upgrades are available for purchase now. New terminals will start shipping in Q4 2024 and a return to factory service bulletin will be available for purchase starting in Q4 2024.

The significant connectivity milestone achieved through the L-band terminal upgrade also underscores Honeywell’s alignment of its portfolio around three powerful megatrends that include the future of aviation.

About Honeywell

Products and services from Honeywell Aerospace Technologies are found on virtually every commercial, defense and space aircraft. The Aerospace Technologies business unit builds aircraft engines, cockpit and cabin electronics, wireless connectivity systems, mechanical components and more. Its hardware and software solutions create more fuel-efficient aircraft, more direct and on-time flights and safer skies and airports. For more information, visit www.honeywell.com/us/en or follow us at @Honeywell_Aero.

Honeywell is an integrated operating company serving a broad range of industries and geographies around the world. Our business is aligned with three powerful megatrends – automation, the future of aviation and energy transition – underpinned by our Honeywell Accelerator operating system and Honeywell Connected Enterprise integrated software platform. As a trusted partner, we help organizations solve the world’s toughest, most complex challenges, providing actionable solutions and innovations through our Aerospace Technologies, Industrial Automation, Building Automation and Energy and Sustainability Solutions business segments that help make the world smarter, safer and more sustainable. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom

About Viasat

Viasat is a global communications company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be connected. With offices in 24 countries around the world, our mission shapes how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the world communicate and connect. Viasat is developing the ultimate global communications network to power high-quality, reliable, secure, affordable, fast connections to positively impact people’s lives anywhere they are—on the ground, in the air or at sea, while building a sustainable future in space. In May 2023, Viasat completed its acquisition of Inmarsat, combining the teams, technologies and resources of the two companies to create a new global communications partner. Learn more at www.viasat.com, the Viasat News Room or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X or YouTube.