Aeronautical communications provider Satcom Direct (SD) has developed a compact router, in response to growing demand from owners and operators of small business aircraft for a lightweight system providing full internet connectivity and improved data speeds during flight.

The system, dubbed the LTE Hub, has already secured US certification and will be officially unveiled on 10 October at the National Business Aviation Association convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The router is the smallest on the market, says SD, measuring 17 x 14.7 x 2.5cm (6.7 x 5.8 x 1in) and weighing just 730g (1.6lb). Despite its size, the hub supports the latest cellular, satellite and wi-fi technology, providing data transfer rates of up to 867 Mbps in the cabin, it adds.

It is compatible with Ku-, Ka- and L-band satellite networks.

SD director of hardware Jason Sperry says the LTE Hub brings “the office-in-the-sky concept” to the lower end of the fixed-wing and helicopter market, wher previously the only options were larger, heavy systems that may not have provided the complete suite of on-ground, in-air and in-cabin connectivity. “We know operators and private owners of the smaller cabins want access to the same connectivity options as the large jets, and anticipate this will fill a growing need in the market,” he says.

Until now, SD's router family – which includes the SDR and SDR Gateway – has predominantly provided connectivity for midsize to large-cabin business jets.