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The logo of French defence and electronics group Thales is seen at the company's headquarters in Neuilly, near Paris, May 20, 2008.
PARIS, Sept 12 (Reuters) - French aerospace and defence group Thalessaid in a statement it has reached an agreement with satellite operator SES to offer high-speed internet aboard airplanes.
Equipment makers and airlines are eyeing a market worth one to two billion euros by the end of the decade, when satellite links should allow quality high-speed internet on most flights.
The new service, called FlytLIVE, will start in summer 2017, and will use two existing satellites.
SES will provide a third satellite - the SES-17, built by Thales Alenia Space - which will be launched in 2020 and will boost system capacity.
(Reporting by Cyril Altmeyer; writing Geert De Clercq; editing by Jason Neely) ((geert.declercq@thomsonreuters.com; +33 14949 5343; Reuters Messaging: Twitter: @gvdeclercq))
Equipment makers and airlines are eyeing a market worth one to two billion euros by the end of the decade, when satellite links should allow quality high-speed internet on most flights.
The new service, called FlytLIVE, will start in summer 2017, and will use two existing satellites.
SES will provide a third satellite - the SES-17, built by Thales Alenia Space - which will be launched in 2020 and will boost system capacity.
(Reporting by Cyril Altmeyer; writing Geert De Clercq; editing by Jason Neely) ((geert.declercq@thomsonreuters.com; +33 14949 5343; Reuters Messaging: Twitter: @gvdeclercq))
