PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News:
At the International Paris Air Show in Le Bourget (Salon du Bourget), Air France, Latécoère and Ubisoft will be trialing their new LiFi (Light Fidelity) technology using light to transmit data and will run an in-flight video game tournament showcasing this technology.
LiFi, the next standard for in-flight data transmission, to be showcased at Le Bourget
During the International Paris Air Show, Latécoère’s stand (Hall 2a – B254) will feature a full-scale, medium-range Air France cabin mock-up featuring LiFi technology. Visitors at the show will be able to put the speed and reliability of this innovative new technology through its paces in a live demo.
Latécoère, a tier 1 partner to major international aircraft manufacturers, has designed a LiFi infrastructure solution enabling entertainment and communication system providers to deliver the best possible in-flight connectivity. This technology offers multiple benefits:
- Very high-speed multimedia data throughput (a speed currently 100 times faster than existing WiFi systems);
- Less on-board cabling (eliminating copper cables and replacing them with optical systems), leading to overall weight savings for the aircraft and making it more fuel-efficient.
It is thanks to the pioneering mindset of Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance, a major international player in aircraft maintenance, that it is possible to deploy this solution within an Air France Cabin for the first time. LiFi was spotted at an early stage by its cabin modification experts, who then began to think about how to implement this innovative technology on board an aircraft.
As Latécoère also identified the great potential for LiFi, the partnership arose naturally from a common desire to explore new technology-driven opportunities. Latécoère developed the system, while AFI KLM E&M obtained certification for the solution and oversaw cabin integration. This combined expertise is driving forward unparalleled advancements in the aerospace industry.
The “Air France Trackmania Cup” hosted by Ubisoft – an innovative demonstration of LiFi that is not to be missed
In order to demonstrate the power of LiFi transmission speeds, Ubisoft will launch a never-before-seen tournament based around its racing video game Trackmania² Stadium at 10:00 am (CET) on Monday, June 17, on Latécoère’s stand. Visitors to the International Paris Air Show will be able to take up the challenge by playing against each other online using tablets installed in a mock-up of a medium-range Air France cabin.
The official tournament will take place from Saturday 6 July at 8:00 pm (CET), with the final rounds taking place in September 2019 on a one-off Air France commercial flight in an aircraft specially kitted out for the occasion, with 12 seats equipped with Latécoère’s LiFi technology. Competitors will be able to discover customized racetracks created especially for the event and that will feature key elements of Air France’s and Latécoère’s universe.
Players will be able to register online at www.airfrance-tmcup.com as soon as the tournament opens.
The prizes as well as the terms and conditions of the tournament will be communicated shortly via the above site.
Yannick Assouad, Latécoère’s Chief Executive Officer, commented: “The development of on board LiFi technology, an area where Latécoère is market leader, will shake up how passengers and cabin crew receive and share data during flights over the next five years. We are proud to be spearheading this innovation, and this expert technology underscores our major R&T efforts over the past three years.”
Deborah Papiernik, Ubisoft’s SVP, New Business Development, added: “We are proud to be participating in the International Paris Air Show alongside two leading names from France’s aerospace industry. The exclusive partnership provides an opportunity to establish Ubisoft in a new arena, at an altitude 30,000 feet above where our games are normally played. In-flight entertainment is destined for tremendous growth over the next few years, and Ubisoft is ready to play a leading role”.
Antoine Laborde, Air France’s Head of Innovation, continued: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to trial LiFi on one of our aircraft, and to be holding an on-board video game tournament—two “world firsts”. In-flight entertainment is a cornerstone of Air France’s onboard experience, and so it is only natural that Air France is investing in innovative solutions that will provide new experiences for our customers in a few years time.”
Note to editors:
To see a demonstration of LiFi at the Paris International Air Show, we invite you to contact the Latécoère press office.
About Air France
Air France, a global airline of French inspiration, with high standards and a caring attitude, turns the flight into a moment of real pleasure on all its daily operations in France, Europe and worldwide.
Air France-KLM is the leading Group in terms of international traffic on departure from Europe. In 2018, it offers its customers access to a network covering 314 destinations in 116 countries thanks to its five brands Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Transavia, Joon and HOP! Air France. With a fleet of 545 aircraft and 98.7 million passengers carried in 2017, Air France-KLM operates up to 2,300 daily flights, mainly from its hubs at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol.
Its Flying Blue frequent flyer programme is one of the leaders in Europe with over 15 million members.
Air France-KLM and its partners Delta Air Lines and Alitalia operate the biggest trans-Atlantic joint-venture with over 270 daily flights.
Air France-KLM is also a member of the SkyTeam alliance which has 20 member airlines, offering customers access to a global network of over 16,600 daily flights to more than 1,070 destinations in 177 countries.
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About Latécoère
Latécoère is a tier 1 partner to major international aircraft manufacturers (Airbus, Embraer, Dassault, Boeing and Bombardier), in all segments of the aeronautical market (commercial, regional, corporate and military aircraft), specialising in two fields:
- Aerostructures (58% of total revenue): fuselage sections and doors.
- Interconnection systems (42% of total revenue): onboard wiring, electrical harnesses and avionics bays.
At December 31, 2018, Latécoère employed 4,958 people in 13 different countries. Latécoère, a French corporation (société anonyme) with capital of €190,337,036 divided into 95,168,518 shares with a par value of €2 per share, is listed on Euronext Paris - Compartment B. ISIN codes: FR0000032278 - Reuters: LAEP.PA - Bloomberg: LAT.FP
About Ubisoft
Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Just Dance, Watch Dogs, Tom Clancy’s video game series, Rayman, Far Cry and Watch Dogs. The teams throughout Ubisoft’s worldwide network of studios and business offices are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the 2018-19 fiscal year Ubisoft generated Net Bookings of €2,029 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoft.com.
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