Saudia, Neo Space Group launch advanced in-flight connectivity

Neo Space Group (NSG), a PIF company and Saudi Arabia’s leading commercial space services provider, has launched one of the region’s advanced in-flight connectivity (IFC) services in partnership with Saudia, the Kingdom’s national flag carrier. 

Under this partnership, Saudia plans to provide complimentary high-speed internet to all guests - becoming one of the first airlines in the Middle East to offer free broadband connectivity onboard. 

Powered by NSG Skywaves and leveraging the SES Open Orbits multi-orbit network, the service delivers fast, reliable connectivity across Saudia’s global network.

The rollout represents a significant step in NSG’s strategy to scale sovereign, multi-orbit connectivity solutions across priority sectors, with aviation serving as a cornerstone vertical.

This reflects Saudia’s core values of hospitality, innovation, and service excellence, as well as its commitment to bringing the world to the Kingdom. 

By redefining the digital travel experience, Saudia continues to embody the spirit of Vision 2030 - combining tradition with technology to deliver world-class experiences that celebrate Saudi pride and progress.

Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, commented: “As Saudia continues to scale its operations and invest in fleet modernisation, strengthening our digital infrastructure remains a strategic priority. Connectivity today shapes how guests experience travel and how airlines differentiate themselves in a competitive global market. This partnership allows us to elevate the onboard experience while reinforcing our broader digital ecosystem, supporting our long-term competitiveness and sustained growth in an increasingly connected aviation landscape”.

This Saudi partnership comes at a pivotal moment in Saudia’s transformation, reinforcing its largest-ever investment in elevating the guest experience - from cabin modernisation to next-generation digital services.

Haithem Alfaraj CEO of NSG, stated: “This partnership embodies the spirit of Saudi progress. As a PIF company, we take pride in delivering advanced, sovereign connectivity at scale. Aviation is a strategic priority for NSG, and this milestone brings outstanding high-speed connectivity to passengers across the Kingdom and around the world.”

The deployment of NSG Skywaves will support large-scale connectivity capabilities across Saudia’s fleet. The solution integrates the SES Open Orbits multi-orbit network with the certified Thinkom Ka2517 IFC antenna supplied by Eclipse Global Connectivity, delivering a unified and scalable connectivity platform.

The deployment of NSG Skywaves will support large-scale connectivity capabilities across Saudia’s fleet.

SES’s Open Orbits architecture combines GEO and MEO satellites to ensure low-latency, high-throughput broadband with global reach. Eclipse Global Connectivity will lead equipment integration and certification for retrofitted aircraft.

This partnership reinforces Saudi Arabia’s growing leadership in digital aviation and satellite-enabled services, supporting the Kingdom’s ambition to build a globally competitive space economy. -TradeArabia News Service