SWIFT 64 Inside Swift64
Swift64 is the aeronautical implementation of Inmarsat's Global Area Network (GAN), introduced from 2000 to bring the benefits of higher data speeds and modern data formats to land-mobile, maritime and aviation users.

Swift64 differs from Inmarsat's main predecessor services, Aero H and Aero I, in two important ways:
it is faster, with a maximum data rate of 64kbit/s compared with 9.6kbit/s

it supports two of the most common and useful data communications formats – Integrated Systems Digital Network (ISDN) and Internet Protocol (IP) packet data

Inmarsat designates the two data formats Mobile ISDN and Mobile Packet Data respectively. These services are delivered to aircraft through the spot beams of the four Inmarsat 3 satellites. As well as a "global" beam covering a complete hemisphere, each satellite generates up to seven spot beams designed to increase the amount of communications capacity available in areas of high demand.

Swift64 equipment can either work alongside an existing Aero H installation in the aircraft, operating through the Aero H antenna subsystem that is already in place, or may be installed in stand-alone form with its own dedicated antenna in an aircraft not previously fitted with satellite communications.

Swift64 airborne terminals can support multiple simultaneous channels, while each channel can be shared among a number of users. Passengers and crew will access Swift64 through existing aircraft networks and user equipment such as seatback in-flight entertainment units or laptops.