Under the terms of the agreement, Honeywell will develop and manufacture the onboard hardware that will enable users to connect to Inmarsat’s network. Honeywell executives said they expect that the contract will generate $2.8 billion in sales of hardware, customer service and maintenance to airlines, government entities and other customers in the next 20 years.

   Inmarsat will support the services through its next-generation network, Global Xpress, which is scheduled to launch in 2013 and be available for widespread use during the following year.

   “The demand for in-flight connectivity has grown as people have become more reliant on their phones and computers to conduct business and support social ties,” Honeywell President and CEO Tim Mahoney said in a statement. “With this new service, the flow of information will no longer stop when the door to the aircraft closes.”

   Honeywell’s aerospace unit, based in Phoenix, has ramped up its commercial satellite operations during the last two years as it looks to expand its global and vertical footprint Mahoney has previously said that Honeywell sees airline connectivity as one of its growth opportunities.

   Honeywell acquired mobile network operator and satellite manufacturer EMS Technologies in June 2011 for about $491 million in cash in an effort to expand its presence into the mobile and satellite communication industries. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) issued a five-year, $450 million contract to Honeywell in September to provide Ground Systems and Mission Operations (GSMO) services for the agency’s fleet of scientific research satellites The company also has an existing relationship with Inmarsat to support its current aviation service.

   “We see this new arrangement with Inmarsat as the next step towards faster connections for customers and we are very excited about the potential,” said Mahoney.