SES and Global Eagle Entertainment have signed new multi-year, multi-transponder agreements, doubling its SES satellite capacity, to meet growing global demand for inflight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) services.

Over the past two quarters, GEE has secured additional SES Ku-band capacity, adding bandwidth on six SES satellites, SES-1, AMC-1, AMC-2, AMC-3, NSS-12 and ASTRA 4A, to connect airline passengers across the globe. Under the expanding relationship with GEE, SES is also providing teleport services, ground infrastructure and its deeply rooted expertise in the aviation and mobility markets.

"GEE continues to expand its global inflight connectivity network with SES capacity to meet the exciting and rapidly expanding needs of airlines and their passengers around the world," said Dave Davis, CEO of GEE.

"Together with SES, its global fleet, and its high throughput satellites (HTS) that will be launched in 2017, GEE is ushering in the next generation of inflight entertainment and connectivity that is already reshaping the passenger experience and the industry as a whole."

"SES is rapidly expanding and evolving its global fleet to remain at the forefront of fast-growing mobile connectivity demand around the world," noted Elias Zaccack, Senior Vice President, Commercial, Americas, with responsibility for global mobility solutions at SES.

"Our aim is to enable airline passengers to enjoy a superb connectivity experience that is comparable to that on the ground. SES is proud to be part of GEE's high-quality, high-value service offering to its customer airlines."

As part of its growing relationship with SES, GEE will also utilise major portions of HTS capacity aboard the SES-12, SES-14 and SES-15 satellites, which are currently under construction and scheduled for launch in 2017. SES-14 and SES-15 offer complementary coverage over busy air travel routes across the Americas and North Atlantic regions, Western Europe, the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, while SES-12 will serve the fast-growing aeronautical market across Asia and the Middle East.