✈️No Interruptions, Just Altitude: KenCast Powers Seamless In-Flight Video Delivery

Modern airline passengers expect more than just transportation — they expect the full digital experience. From seatback screens to personal devices, they want access to high-quality live TV, sports, news, and on-demand content, all at 30,000 feet.

But delivering video at altitude isn’t easy. Aircraft move through satellite coverage zones, bank across beams, and navigate signal disruptions, all without the luxury of requesting a retransmission if data is lost. That's why leaders in the in-flight entertainment (IFE) space rely on KenCast’s Smart FEC technology — a critical enabler of reliable, uninterrupted video delivery in motion.

Built for the Challenges of In-Flight Connectivity

Unlike ground-based streaming, where a dropped packet might be re-sent in milliseconds, content sent to an aircraft needs to arrive flawlessly the first time. That’s especially true for live TV, where latency and buffering aren’t just frustrating — they’re deal-breakers.

KenCast’s patented Application Layer Forward Error Correction (AL-FEC) and Smart FEC technology work together to solve this. By embedding intelligent supplemental data packets alongside the source content, Smart FEC allows airborne receivers to reconstruct missing data on their own, ensuring uninterrupted playback without costly retransmissions.

It’s a proactive approach that optimizes bandwidth, improves reliability, and ensures seamless viewing for every passenger — whether the plane is above Winnipeg or banking into Patagonia.

🌍 Supporting IFE Providers

KenCast’s Smart FEC solutions are in use across a growing number of IFE platforms, supporting:

• Live streaming of sports, news, and events

• Regionally customized channel lineups for North and South American passengers

• Multiple delivery models — from seatback screens to browser-based viewing on personal devices

• Resilience across network transitions, including switching between GEO satellites and spot beams mid-flight

In a space where service consistency defines passenger satisfaction — and often, customer loyalty — KenCast helps IFE providers deliver a quality of experience that matches what travelers expect on the ground.

🔄 Reinventing the VOD Pipeline with Multicast

While Smart FEC ensures flawless live streaming, video-on-demand (VOD) presents its own logistical hurdles. Many providers still load VOD libraries onto aircraft using USB sticks — hundreds per plane — delaying updates and creating friction in airline operations.

KenCast’s multicast-enabled platform unlocks a better way forward. By pushing content updates wirelessly to aircraft while on the ground or in the air, IFE teams can:

• Refresh libraries faster and more frequently

• Eliminate physical handling and human error

• Deliver newer content with minimal bandwidth impact

• Scale content rollouts across fleets without scaling complexity

The combination of Smart FEC for live streaming and multicast delivery for VOD offers a scalable, future-ready solution for any IFE provider focused on quality and efficiency.

💺 The Invisible Backbone of Passenger Experience

In a competitive IFE market, the reliability of video delivery is no longer just a technical concern — it’s a brand differentiator. Passengers remember whether their live stream buffered during the playoffs or whether their favorite show was available mid-flight.

KenCast’s Smart FEC and multicast technologies provide the unseen infrastructure that enables these moments to happen — smoothly, securely, and without interruption.

As inflight entertainment continues to evolve, KenCast remains the trusted delivery partner helping IFE providers deliver what matters most: content that keeps passengers informed, engaged, and entertained — from takeoff to touchdown.