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AeroMobile seals future long term investment with Telenor Group
29
th January, 2010 - AeroMobile has today finalised a long term investment in its future, with
the formation of AeroMobile Communications Ltd as a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Telenor Group, the world’s seventh largest telecoms company.
The move comes as the business of AeroMobile emerges from a short, 5 week period
of restructure via administration. During this time, the company was managed in
conjunction with the highly acclaimed firm BDO who led a successful restructuring
process, and secured the outright sale of the AeroMobile business to Telenor.
AeroMobile says this will enable it to maintain its industry leadership and cater
to the burgeoning in-flight connectivity market.
Bjarne Aamodt, Chairman of the Board of AeroMobile and Senior Vice President
in Telenor Group, says: “We are delighted to seal an investment in AeroMobile
that will develop its potential in the years ahead. This innovative, award-winning
business already has a proven track record and, with our long-term vision and
support, we are utterly confident that it will continue to grow successfully.”
In March 2008, the AeroMobile system made possible the first authorised in-flight
calls on a commercial flight with launch customer Emirates Airline. It is currently
the only system in commercial operation on wide-bodied airliners. It is in service
today on 68 aircraft of Emirates and Malaysian Airlines, flying to over 90 destinations
across the globe, and has also been ordered by Qantas.
AeroMobile is teamed with market-leading IFEC (In-flight Entertainment and Communications) giant,
Panasonic Avionics Corporation, and is a key element of the world’s first fully
integrated cellular-enabled IFEC platform. AeroMobile technology, under the eXPhone
brand, is an integral part of Panasonic’s new IFEC offering. V Australia is the
launch customer for eXPhone.
AeroMobile’s technology is also a major component of Panasonic’s Global Communications
Suite, an advanced industry first package that offers in-flight cellular, broadband
Wi-Fi services and live TV. Lufthansa is the launch customer for the Global Communications
Suite.
Since its launch, the AeroMobile system has been used by over 1.4 million airline
passengers making it the most popular in the skies today.
AeroMobile’s CEO, Bjorn-Taale Sandberg, says: “This is a significant moment in
our company’s history and a major step forward. Becoming a subsidiary of a renowned
billion dollar industry giant such as Telenor Group gives us the necessary confidence
to further develop the company to the benefit of our customers”
“The recent restructuring was initiated to create a better platform from which
we can realise our full long-term business potential, sustain product leadership
and continually offer different ways for airlines to differentiate themselves.”
Malcolm Cohen, Restructuring Partner at BDO and joint administrator, said: "It
is a great result to have sold the AeroMobile business to Telenor, preserving
jobs and reputation. The sale will ensure the ongoing success of the business
and we wish Telenor and AeroMobile Communications the very best for the future."
- Ends -
About AeroMobile
AeroMobile Communications Limited is a UK-based company, wholly owned by Telenor
Group, the world’s 7
th largest telecoms company. AeroMobile has offices in the UK, Oslo, Seattle, Dubai
and Singapore.
AeroMobile provides world class, proven, technology and services that allow the
safe and managed use of passengers own mobile phones and PDAs in-flight.
AeroMobile was first operated on a commercial air transport aircraft in June
2005 on Boeing’s 777-200LR ‘Worldliner’ demonstrator aircraft. AeroMobile was
subsequently trialled by Qantas on over 1,000 domestic Australian flights in 2007.
The SMS and GPRS based trial on Qantas represented the first time in aviation
history that in-flight cellular services were offered in full commercial service.
A commitment from Qantas to install AeroMobile across their domestic fleet followed
the trial.
The AeroMobile system is uniquely able to operate over existing and future Inmarsat
satellite communication systems as well as Panasonic’s multi MB eXConnect Ku band
satellite solution. Airline commitments span all technologies.
The AeroMobile system is in operation today with Emirates Airline and Malaysian
Airlines, and has been ordered by Lufthansa, V Australia and Qantas.
In September 2008, AeroMobile won the prestigious “Best Achievement in Technology
2008” award from the World Airline Entertainment Association (WAEA).
More information may be found at www.aeromobile.net
For more information contact:
Charlie Hampton or Steve Double
at Bell Pottinger Business & Brand
Tel: +44 (0)20 7861 2431/2449
E-Mail: champton@bell-pottinger.co.uk
About Telenor Group
Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, Telenor Group is an international provider of
high quality telecommunications, data and media communication services. The Telenor
Group is one of Norway’s largest companies with revenues in 2008 of approx. NOK
110 billion (including Kyivstar) and a work force of more than 40,000 domestically
and abroad. Telenor Group is listed at the Oslo Stock Exchange (TEL).
For more information about the Telenor Group, please visit www.telenor.com For more information contact:
Scott Engebritsen
Communications Manager
Telenor Group
Tel: +47 90 04 34 84
E-Mail: Scott.Engebrigtsen@telenor.com |
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