THALES USA, Inc. 2733 South Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA 22202 - USA
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Date: April 28, 2020
Estonian Competition Authority
ESTONIA
Dear Sir/Madame,
Thales Airlines customer Emirates and others would like to offer Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi) services in addition to Thales providing
Inflight Entertainment (IFE) and Inflight Connectivity (IFC) services. The VoWiFi services would only be operating and offered above
3,048 meters altitude (>10,000’ above ground) when overflying your country using SES and Inmarsat GX Satellite network.
Thales is seeking your approval for VoWiFi, using Thales in-cabin Wi-Fi network.
Key information on Thales Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi) services:
1. Already approved by UAE (TRA Regulator) for operating on the ground in Dubai and above 3,048 meters altitude.
2. VoWiFi requires no separate application such as Skype or WhatsApp (different from VoIP) to make voice calls or send text
messages.
3. VoWiFi on the aircraft utilizes the native phone & text components as it would on the ground
4. The VoWiFi calling ability is inherent to mobile phones and the carrier’s networks. Thales VoWiFi solution leverages the Wi-
Fi calling feature embedded in modern Passenger Electronic Devices (PEDs)
5. No Payment required on-board, passengers billed through their mobile phone plan.
Key Information on Thales equipment:
1. Internally, the aircraft will have connectivity interfaces for passengers to in-cabin Wi-Fi (2.4/5 GHz) networks. The in-cabin
Wi-Fi equipment has been granted FCC, CE Compliance and Type Approval from the UAE (home registered country of
Emirates), and meet 802.11/g/n/ac standards, including compliance with your countries spectrum bands when operating.
2. The connectivity between the aircraft’s antenna and SES/Inmarsat Satellite will be using the Ka-band. Specifically, the Earth
Stations aboard Aircraft (ESAA) or Earth Stations in Motion (ESIM) terminal will connect to satellites in geosynchronous orbit
via licensed and authorized Ka-band spectrum (19.7-20.2 GHz / 29.5-30.0 GHz ranges). SES/Inmarsat as the satellite operator
has acquired the proper authorizations and approvals for the use of ESAA or ESIM from your country and the International
Telecommunications Union (ITU).
3. The Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention) Resolution A29-19 provides a mechanism for recognizing
foreign licenses, which your country is a signatory.1 Under the Chicago Convention, aircraft registered to a member country
may use radio transmitter equipment over another country’s territory provided that the transmitter is licensed by the country
that registered the aircraft and that said use is in compliance with the regulations of the country over which the aircraft is
flying.2
Please consider this correspondence, be email and postal mail our obligatory effort to correspond with your office. Based on the
above, we foresee no challenges or interference issues in allowing VoWiFi, IFE and IFC services to be operational by Thales only
above 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) altitude on Emirates aircraft that overfly your country’s airspace.
We kindly would like to receive a response from your office within 90 days of this letter or August 1, 2020 to provide Thales VoWiFi
using Wi-Fi services, only above 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) altitude in your country’s airspace.
1 Convention on International Civil Aviation, signed Dec. 7, 1944, Article 30. “Aircraft of each contracting State may, in or over the territory of other contracting States, carry radio transmitting
apparatus only if a license to install and operate such apparatus has been issued by the appropriate authorities of the State in which the aircraft is registered. The use of radio transmitting
apparatus in the territory of the contracting State whose territory is flown over shall be in accordance with the regulations prescribed by that State”.
2 Convention on International Civil Aviation, signed Dec. 7, 1944 Article 33 - Recognition of certificates and licenses: “Certificates of airworthiness and certificates of competency and licenses
issued or rendered valid by the contracting State in which the aircraft is registered, shall be recognized as valid by the other contracting States, provided that the requirements under which
such certificates or licenses were issued or rendered valid are equal to or above the minimum standards which may be established from time to time pursuant to this Convention”.
1|P a g e
THALES USA, Inc. 2733 South Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA 22202 - USA
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Should you require additional information or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned.
Kind regards,
Pasquale Amodio
Thales Avionics Inc.
Senior Director - Regulatory Compliance
2733 South Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA 22202 – USA
Mobile: +1 321.312.7048
[email protected]
Dear Sir/Madame,
Thales Airlines customer Emirates and others would like to offer Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi) services in addition to Thales providing
Inflight Entertainment (IFE) and Inflight Connectivity (IFC) services. The VoWiFi services would only be operating and offered above
3,048 meters altitude (>10,000’ above ground) when overflying your country using SES and Inmarsat GX Satellite network.
Thales is seeking your approval for VoWiFi, using Thales in-cabin Wi-Fi network.
Key information on Thales Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi) services:
1. Already approved by UAE (TRA Regulator) for operating on the ground in Dubai and above 3,048 meters altitude.
2. VoWiFi requires no separate application such as Skype or WhatsApp (different from VoIP) to make voice calls or send text
messages.
3. VoWiFi on the aircraft utilizes the native phone & text components as it would on the ground
4. The VoWiFi calling ability is inherent to mobile phones and the carrier’s networks. Thales VoWiFi solution leverages the Wi-
Fi calling feature embedded in modern Passenger Electronic Devices (PEDs)
5. No Payment required on-board, passengers billed through their mobile phone plan.
Key Information on Thales equipment:
1. Internally, the aircraft will have connectivity interfaces for passengers to in-cabin Wi-Fi (2.4/5 GHz) networks. The in-cabin
Wi-Fi equipment has been granted FCC, CE Compliance and Type Approval from the UAE (home registered country of Emirates), and
meet 802.11/g/n/ac standards, including compliance with your countries spectrum bands when operating.
2. The connectivity between the aircraft’s antenna and SES/Inmarsat Satellite will be using the Ka-band. Specifically, the Earth
Stations aboard Aircraft (ESAA) or Earth Stations in Motion (ESIM) terminal will connect to satellites in geosynchronous orbit via
licensed and authorized Ka-band spectrum (19.7-20.2 GHz / 29.5-30.0 GHz ranges). SES/Inmarsat as the satellite operator has
acquired the proper authorizations and approvals for the use of ESAA or ESIM from your country and the International
Telecommunications Union (ITU).
3. The Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention) Resolution A29-19 provides a mechanism for
recognizing foreign licenses, which your country is a signatory. Under the Chicago Convention, aircraft registered to a member
country may use radio transmitter equipment over another country’s territory provided that the transmitter is licensed by the
country that registered the aircraft and that said use is in compliance with the regulations of the country over which the aircraft is
flying.
2|P a g e
THALES USA, Inc. 2733 South Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA 22202 - USA
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Please consider this correspondence, be email and postal mail our obligatory effort to correspond with your office. Based on the
above, we foresee no challenges or interference issues in allowing VoWiFi, IFE and IFC services to be operational by Thales only
above 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) altitude on Emirates aircraft that overfly your country’s airspace.
We kindly would like to receive a response from your office within 90 days of this letter or August 1, 2020 to provide Thales VoWiFi
using Wi-Fi services, only above 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) altitude in your country’s airspace.
Should you require additional information or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned.
Kind regards,
Lugupeetud!
Thales Airlinesi kliendid Emiraadid ja teised sooviksid lisaks lennuinfole meelelahutuse (IFE) ja lennuühenduse (IFC) teenuseid
pakkuvale Thalesile pakkuda ka VoIP-teenuseid (VoWiFi). VoWiFi-teenused töötaksid ja neid pakutaks ainult 3 048 meetri kõrgusel (>
10 000 'maapinnast), kui lendate üle oma riigi, kasutades SES-i ja Inmarsat GX satelliitvõrku.
Thales taotleb teie VoWiFi heakskiitu, kasutades Thalesi salongi WiFi-võrku.
Põhiteave Thales Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi) teenuste kohta:
1. AÜE (TRA regulaator) on juba heaks kiitnud toimimise maapinnal Dubais ja kõrgemal kui 3 048 meetrit.
2. VoWiFi ei vaja häälkõnede tegemiseks ega tekstisõnumite saatmiseks eraldi rakendusi, nagu Skype või WhatsApp (erineb VoIP-st).
3. VoWiFi kasutab õhusõidukis natiivseid telefoni ja teksti komponente nagu maa peal
4. VoWiFi helistamisvõimalus on omane mobiiltelefonidele ja operaatori võrkudele. Thales VoWiFi lahendus kasutab kaasaegsetesse
elektroonilistesse reisijate elektroonilistesse seadmetesse (PED) manustatud WiFi-kõnede funktsiooni.
5. Pardal ei nõuta maksmist, reisijatelt võetakse arve mobiiltelefoni paketi kaudu.
Põhiteave Thalesi varustuse kohta:
1. Õhusõidukil on reisijatele ühenduvusliidesed salongi WiFi (2,4 / 5 GHz) võrkude vahel. Salongisisestele WiFi-seadmetele on antud
AÜE (Emiraatide kodune registreeritud riik) FCC, CE nõuetele vastavuse ja tüübikinnitus ning need vastavad 802.11 / g / n / ac
standarditele, sealhulgas töötamisel teie riikide spektri sagedusribadele.
2. Lennuki antenni ja SES / Inmarsat Satellite vahelise ühenduvuse jaoks kasutatakse Ka-riba. Täpsemalt, õhusõiduki (ESAA) või
liikumiskeskuse maajaamad (ESIM) pardal asuvad maajaamad ühendatakse satelliitidega geosünkroonsel orbiidil litsentseeritud ja
lubatud Ka-riba spektri kaudu (vahemikud 19,7-20,2 GHz / 29,5-30,0 GHz). SES / Inmarsat kui satelliidioperaator on teie riigist ja
Rahvusvaheliselt Telekommunikatsiooni Liidult (ITU) saanud ESAA või ESIMi kasutamiseks sobivad volitused ja kinnitused.
3. Rahvusvahelise tsiviillennunduse konventsiooni (Chicago konventsioon) resolutsioon A29-19 pakub mehhanismi välisriikide
litsentside tunnustamiseks, millele teie riik on alla kirjutanud. Chicago konventsiooni kohaselt võivad liikmesriiki registreeritud
õhusõidukid kasutada raadiosaatja seadmeid teise riigi territooriumi kohal, kui saatjale on lennuki registreerinud riigi litsents ja kui
see kasutamine on kooskõlas selle riigi eeskirjadega, kus õhusõidukit kasutatakse lendab.
Palun arvestage seda kirjavahetust, saatke e-kiri ja postiaadress meie kohustuslikele kontoriga suhtlemiseks. Ülaltoodu põhjal ei näe
me ette, et VoWiFi, IFE ja IFC teenused saaksid Thales töötada ainult 10 000 jala (3 048 meetri) kõrgusel Emiratese lennukitel, mis
ületavad teie riigi õhuruumi.
Soovime saada teie kontorist vastuse 90 päeva jooksul pärast selle kirja saamist või 1. augustist 2020, et pakute Thales VoWiFi Wi-Fi-
teenuseid kasutades, ainult üle 10 000 jala (3 048 meetrit) teie riigi õhuruumis.
Kui vajate lisateavet või teil on küsimusi, võtke palun kõhklemata ühendust.
Parimate soovidega,
3|P a g e
Saatja: AMODIO Pat <
[email protected]>
Saadetud: 08.06.2020 18:05
Adressaat: TTJA <
[email protected]>
Koopia: Kaur Kajak <
[email protected]>
Teema: FW: ESTONIA - Thales request for VoWiFi
Manused: ESTONIA - Thales request for VoWiFi.pdf
Dear Sir / Madame,
I hope this letter finds you in the best of health. Thales Airlines customer Emirates and others
would like to offer Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi) services in addition to Thales providing Inflight
Entertainment (IFE) and Inflight Connectivity (IFC) services. The VoWiFi services would only be
operating and offered above 3,048 meters altitude (>10,000’ above ground) when overflying
your country using SES/Inmarsat GX Satellite network. Thales is seeking your approval for
VoWiFi, using Thales in-cabin Wi-Fi network. Please find our official letter attached for your
consideration.
Kind regards,
Lugupeetud!
Loodan, et see kiri on teie tervise seisukohalt kõige parem. Thales Airlinesi kliendid Emiraadid ja
teised sooviksid lisaks lennuinfole meelelahutuse (IFE) ja lennuühenduse (IFC) teenuseid
pakkuvale Thalesile pakkuda ka VoIP-teenuseid (VoWiFi). VoWiFi-teenused töötaksid ja neid
pakutaks ainult 3 048 meetri kõrgusel (> 10 000 'maapinnast), kui lendate üle oma riigi,
kasutades SES / Inmarsat GX satelliitvõrku. Thales taotleb teie VoWiFi heakskiitu, kasutades
Thales salongi WiFi-võrku. Aruteluks leiate meie ametliku kirja.
Parimate soovidega,
Pasquale (Pat) Amodio
Senior Director - Regulatory Compliance
Tel: 571.255.4479
Mobile: +1 321.312.7048
Fax: 1-703-838-9692
[email protected]
THALES USA, Inc.
2733 South Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA 22202 - USA
From: Konkurentsiamet <
[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2020 2:56 AM
To: AMODIO Pat <
[email protected]>
Subject: FW: ESTONIA - Thales request for VoWiFi
Tere
Thank you for your letter. In this matter we suggest you turn to Estonian Customer Protection and
Technical Regulatory Authority:
[email protected]
https://www.ttja.ee/en/contact
Best regards
Kersti Telve
Estonian Competition Authority
Tatari 39
10134 Tallinn
ESTONIA
www.konkurentsiamet.ee
From: AMODIO Pat <
[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2020 5:00 PM
To: Konkurentsiamet <
[email protected]>
Subject: [VÄLJAST] ESTONIA - Thales request for VoWiFi
Dear Sir / Madame,
I hope this letter finds you in the best of health. Thales Airlines customer Emirates and others
would like to offer Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi) services in addition to Thales providing Inflight
Entertainment (IFE) and Inflight Connectivity (IFC) services. The VoWiFi services would only be
operating and offered above 3,048 meters altitude (>10,000’ above ground) when overflying
your country using SES/Inmarsat GX Satellite network. Thales is seeking your approval for
VoWiFi, using Thales in-cabin Wi-Fi network. Please find our official letter attached for your
consideration.
Kind regards,
Lugupeetud!
Loodan, et see kiri on teie tervise seisukohalt kõige parem. Thales Airlinesi kliendid Emiraadid ja
teised sooviksid lisaks lennuinfole meelelahutuse (IFE) ja lennuühenduse (IFC) teenuseid
pakkuvale Thalesile pakkuda ka VoIP-teenuseid (VoWiFi). VoWiFi-teenused töötaksid ja neid
pakutaks ainult 3 048 meetri kõrgusel (> 10 000 'maapinnast), kui lendate üle oma riigi,
kasutades SES / Inmarsat GX satelliitvõrku. Thales taotleb teie VoWiFi heakskiitu, kasutades
Thales salongi WiFi-võrku. Aruteluks leiate meie ametliku kirja.
Parimate soovidega,
Pasquale (Pat) Amodio
Senior Director - Regulatory Compliance
Tel: 571.255.4479
Mobile: +1 321.312.7048
Fax: 1-703-838-9692
[email protected]
THALES USA, Inc.
2733 South Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA 22202 - USA