Viasat, Türksat and SkyFive Arabia have announced plans to develop a roaming framework aimed at enabling cross-border in-flight connectivity (IFC) across Türkiye, Europe, and the Middle East-Africa region.
The proposed collaboration will link satellite and air-to-ground (A2G) networks, allowing aircraft to transition between coverage zones while maintaining connectivity. The framework is expected to support interoperability between Viasat’s European Aviation Network (EAN), SkyFive’s A2G infrastructure and Türksat’s planned nationwide A2G network in Türkiye, using shared S-band spectrum.
Türksat is currently developing its A2G network to provide broadband connectivity within Turkish airspace, complementing satellite-based IFC systems and supporting service continuity on regional and long-haul routes.
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The companies state that the initiative is intended to improve network integration, extend coverage across adjacent regions and support more consistent connectivity for airlines operating across multiple geographies.
Shameem Hashmi, SVP Strategy and Market Expansion at Viasat, said: “Viasat recognises the value of collaborating on a joint roaming initiative to enable a seamless connectivity experience for airline customers operating across Türkiye and into the Middle East and Africa.”
Selman Demirel, Vice President at Türksat, said: “This collaboration can help create a framework for cross-border service continuity and support the connectivity needs of airlines and aviation operators across the region.”
Mohamed K. Abdelrehim, CEO of SkyFive Arabia, added: “Roaming capability is an important factor in expanding adoption of air-to-ground connectivity and supporting scalable connectivity solutions across regional markets.”
The initiative remains subject to technical, regulatory and commercial agreements, and reflects broader industry efforts to improve IFC continuity across regional and multi-network environments.
