Hughes Fusion IFC Enhanced With Simultaneous Multi-LEO Antenna System

Advanced ESAs in one installation enable network-agnostic, real-time connectivity optimization leveraging Hughes Fusion In-Flight Connectivity Solution.

Hughes Network Systems, LLC, an EchoStar company, today announced a single antenna solution that integrates two innovative, low-power-consumption electronically steerable antennas: the flight-proven Hughes HL1520 Ku-band ESA and a new Ka-band ESA. Together, this advanced antenna technology system (AATS) enables simultaneous connectivity across Ku- and Ka-band networks. As constellations and business models evolve, this provides airlines with a network-agnostic solution, ensuring their customer experience remains optimized across widebody and narrowbody aircraft. The AATS is specifically engineered to operate across all Ku- and Ka-band NGSO networks by adding a modem card or software-defined waveform, providing options as networks evolve. Hughes offers network access to current capacity partners (such as Eutelsat OneWeb or Telesat) and enables new capacity partners to join the ecosystem, while maintaining a single SLA.

“As airlines scale with fast, free, always-on Wi-Fi across their fleets, architectures reliant on single networks will reach commercial and/or technical limits. With our innovative, flexible, advanced antenna system and the Hughes Fusion managed service, airlines can finally keep their connectivity options open as satellite networks come to market with minimal to no modifications onboard their aircraft,” said Reza Rasoulian, SVP and GM of the Aviation Business Unit at Hughes. “LEO networks continue to rapidly evolve in the marketplace. With the Hughes Fusion IFC solution, we are moving beyond single-network thinking and giving airlines a seamless, agnostic connectivity architecture built to scale, enabling the optimal passenger experience by leveraging the best networks. Hughes Fusion IFC provides the resiliency, flexibility, and performance airlines need today while delivering a Wi-Fi experience that exceeds expectations flight after flight, for every passenger.”

Hughes Fusion IFC gives airlines more choice with an open, multi-network architecture. This allows airlines to evolve their connectivity solutions over time without being locked into a single satellite operator, preserving long-term flexibility and reducing the total cost of ownership. Combining onboard hardware, advanced software, AI/ML operations, cloud infrastructure, and end-to-end connectivity, Hughes Fusion IFC delivers a seamless, transparent passenger experience managed by Hughes. Traffic is dynamically routed, optimized, and prioritized across available networks, delivering consistent, low‑latency connectivity from gate to gate—even in the most demanding operating environments.

Building on proven ESA technology and extensive manufacturing experience, this new constellation-agnostic antenna is designed specifically for aviation and aircraft compatibility and will be built in the state-of-the-art, AS9100-certified Hughes manufacturing facility in Germantown, Maryland. Hughes has built and shipped more than 700 Aviation ESAs.

To learn more about Hughes Fusion IFC and this new AATS hardware, visit Hughes at the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX), April 14-16, in Hamburg, Germany, at stand 2B70. To schedule a private briefing, visit the Hughes website (https://www.hughes.com/aix).