MIAMI BEACH (Press Release). Thales and Proximetry announced their partnership to offer GateSync a high-speed, broadband wireless transmission system and service designed to deliver media content and aircraft operational data on and off the aircraft while on the ground. The innovative GateSync solution has been under development for the past 18-months and will leverage a combination of standards-based WiMAX 802.16 wireless hardware with specialized software technologies.

Thales envisions the deployment of the GateSync solution as an integral support service of its global Ground Support Information System (GSIS) support service. Thales has plans to deploy GateSync to a number of international airport “hubs” starting in 2008.

Unlike 802.11 WiFi networks which have limited range, unreliable performance, and are fraught with contention issues, the Thales GateSync service offers high-bandwidth ( > 200 Mbps + capacity) wireless connectivity service within a 3 – 5 mile radius around an airport environment providing a guaranteed level of performance and security.

Each GateSync airport solution incorporates one high performance WiMAX base station, with one or more repeater stations, and two WiMAX GateSync subscriber stations installed within each aircraft. Proximetry’s patent pending software, AirSync EWM, will be utilized to dynamically configure and tune the WiMAX GateSync network to achieve optimal download configurations and meet the needs of Thales‘ airline clientele while also tailoring content “payloads” to each aircraft flight.

“GateSync significantly differentiates Thales by offering a true broadband end-to-end wireless solution to and from the aircraft allowing airlines to not only load daily and monthly content, but also provide airlines with a high speed wireless network service to load and off-load their crew and aircraft operational data as well,” says Brad Foreman, VP and General Manager of Thales.

“We are very excited about the opportunity to collaborate with Thales on GateSync,” said Proximetry’s CEO, Tracy Trent. “We believe WiMAX solutions are ideally suited to major venues such as airports and when combined with our AirSync product, we can ensure that environmental issues such as interference do not negatively impact the performance while also upholding stringent security and provisioning controls that mission critical enterprise environments demand.”