SES Partners with Viva to Launch Multi-Orbit In-Flight Connectivity

Why It Matters

The service brings broadband‑quality internet to low‑cost travelers, raising passenger expectations and giving SES a stronger market position in Latin America’s fast‑growing airline sector.

Key Takeaways

• SES‑Viva deploys multi‑orbit connectivity on 100 Airbus jets.
• Antenna under 7 cm enables low‑profile satellite links.
• Combines SES GEO network with OneWeb LEO constellation.
• First Mexican airline with SES’s electronically steered array.
• Enhances SES’s broadband presence across the Americas.

Pulse Analysis

The race to provide reliable broadband at 35,000 feet has accelerated as airlines recognize connectivity as a core service rather than a premium add‑on. Traditional geostationary satellites offer wide coverage but suffer from latency, while low‑earth‑orbit constellations deliver speed but require dense constellations. A hybrid, or multi‑orbit, architecture blends the strengths of both, delivering consistent bandwidth and lower latency across diverse flight routes. Industry analysts predict that by 2030, more than 80 % of commercial fleets will be equipped with such solutions.

SES’s partnership with Mexico’s ultra‑low‑cost carrier Viva exemplifies this hybrid approach. The carrier will outfit 100 narrow‑body Airbus aircraft—60 A320s and 40 A321s—with an electronically steered array antenna less than seven centimeters tall. The antenna seamlessly switches between SES’s geostationary fleet and Eutelsat’s OneWeb LEO satellites, ensuring uninterrupted service whether the plane flies over dense urban corridors or remote regions. Early deployment on eleven aircraft already demonstrates the hardware’s low‑profile design and its ability to meet the high‑throughput demands of budget travelers.

For SES, the deal deepens its foothold in the Americas, a region where airline growth outpaces many mature markets. By leveraging its existing GEO infrastructure and the OneWeb partnership, SES can offer carriers a turnkey connectivity package without the need for separate contracts. Competitors such as Inmarsat and Gogo are racing to secure similar agreements, but SES’s early move with a Mexican carrier gives it a strategic advantage in Latin America’s expanding low‑cost segment. The success of this rollout could set a template for future airline‑satellite collaborations worldwide.