Hamburg– Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX), April 15,
2026: Viasat Aviation, Türksat and SkyFive Arabia announced their plans
to establish a strategic roaming collaboration aimed at advancing
next-generation in-flight connectivity (IFC) solutions. This initiative is
designed to support the evolving connectivity needs of airlines and aviation
customers across Europe, Türkiye, and the Middle East-Africa, including more flexible route coverage,
stronger service continuity, and a more compelling customer proposition for
connected aircraft.
The roaming
framework is intended to enable seamless cross-border in-flight connectivity
for commercial airlines, private aviation, and other aviation customers. This
includes those using SKYFive’s air-to-ground (A2G) network and Viasat’s integrated
satellite and complementary ground component connectivity European Aviation
Network (EAN) customers, who stand to gain access to Türksat’s network in
Türkiye. The three networks will use the same S-band spectrum, making roaming
easier to implement.
Türksat
is developing a nationwide A2G network in Türkiye to support in-flight
connectivity services for commercial airlines, private aviation, and other
aviation customers operating within Turkish airspace. The service offering is
intended to provide low-latency, high-capacity broadband connectivity,
complementing satellite-based IFC solutions and enhancing service continuity
for aircraft transitioning between regional coverage zones.
With Türksat
joining an existing collaboration between Viasat and SkyFive, it will act as a
strategic bridge between East & West, connecting ongoing investments in A2G
IFC by both Viasat & SKYFive Arabia. This collaboration is intended to help
create a practical basis for wider cross-network cooperation as A2G adoption
expands.
Türkiye air
travel is a major, high-volume market with tens of millions of passengers
annually, supported by strong tourism demand, business travel and hub
connectivity via Istanbul. Istanbul Airport is one of Europe’s busiest hubs,
linking Europe to Türkiye and onward destinations.
The parties
expect the roaming framework to contribute to a more scalable and commercially
attractive model for next-generation IFC. This includes the potential to
improve interoperability across adjacent coverage areas, support more efficient
use of existing network infrastructure, and provide aviation customers with high-speed
connectivity experience proposition aligned with evolving route structures and
passenger expectations.
Shameem
Hashmi, SVP, Strategy & Market Expansion, Viasat, said:
“Viasat recognizes the
strong mutual value of collaborating on a joint roaming initiative to enable a
seamless connectivity experience for our EAN airline customers operating over
Türkiye and into the Middle East and Africa. We look forward to working closely
with Türksat and SKYFive Arabia to extend the benefits of this collaboration
and further enhance the connectivity experience for our customers.”
Selman
Demirel, VP of TURKSAT, said:
“Türksat is committed to supporting advanced
and commercially practical connectivity solutions for the aviation sector. We
believe this collaboration can help create a stronger framework for
cross-border service continuity and support the evolving connectivity needs of
commercial airlines, private aviation operators, and other aviation customers
flying between Türkiye, Middle East and Europe.”
Mohamed K. Abdelrehim, CEO of SKYFive
Arabia & SCIT Group, said:
“At SKYFive Arabia, we see
roaming capability as an important enabler of broader adoption of air-to-ground
in-flight connectivity. Our collaboration with Türksat reflects a shared
ambition to support a more seamless, scalable, and commercially attractive
connectivity proposition for aviation customers operating across Türkiye, Middle
East and the wider European market.”
The initiative is subject to
applicable contractual, technical, regulatory, and operational requirements.
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 LinkedIn, X, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, and YouTube.
About Türksat
Turksat is a leading satellite
operator and integrated communications service provider, delivering a broad
portfolio of satellite, broadcasting, and digital infrastructure services. With
its expanding satellite fleet and advanced ground infrastructure, Turksat supports
connectivity solutions across a wide geographic footprint.
Leveraging its expertise in
satellite communications, broadband services, and digital platforms, Turksat
plays a strategic role in enabling secure, reliable, and high-performance
connectivity for public and commercial sectors, while contributing to the
development of next-generation communication technologies.
Learn more at www.turksat.com.tr/en or follow Turksat on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, Facebook, and
YouTube.
About SKYFive Arabia
SkyFive Arabia, a subsidiary of SCIT Group and a joint venture between
SCIT and SkyFive AG, is a Saudi-headquartered provider of Air-to-Ground (A2G)
inflight connectivity solutions. The company delivers high-speed, low-latency
internet services to the aviation sector, leveraging advanced A2G technology
combined with hybrid satellite integration to enhance passenger connectivity
experiences and support the evolution of next-generation aviation networks
across the region
For more details, please visit:
skyfive-arabia.world
About SCIT Group
SCIT Group (Space Communications for Information Technology) is a Saudi-based
investment group focused on advancing next-generation connectivity technologies
across the aviation and telecommunications sectors. The company plays a
strategic role in enabling digital transformation through investments in
innovative infrastructure, partnerships, and emerging communication solutions
across the Middle East and beyond.
For more details, please visit: www.scitg.com