TRAVELLERS’ demand for internet access could propel a technology firm to new levels, its boss has revealed.

Filtronic says clamour for Wifi on aeroplanes and trains presents an opportunity to strengthen its market presence.

The company, based at NetPark, in Sedgefield, County Durham, is known for e-band transceivers, which increase the amount of data phone networks can carry.

Rob Smith, chief executive, told The Northern Echo the travel sector is becoming an increasingly attractive area as operators seek to satisfy commuters’ and holidaymakers’ online fix.

He also highlighted its Orpheus transceiver, which is crafted in Sedgefield, as a key driver for such work.

He said: “Demand is now being seen for people having high-speed internet on planes and some airlines are opening it up to see if they can use Wifi, but it is fairly limited.

“However, we know a number of aircraft makers are looking at bringing the capability in and there are opportunities there.

“The internet on trains is not a satisfying experience because if everyone uses the internet at once you fill the cell site.

“(To use the internet or watch videos) you need high-speed transceivers and high-speed capacity and that is where Orpheus comes in.

“It is an absolutely superb product for that application.”

Mr Smith was speaking after Filtronic, which employs 65 people at Sedgefield, revealed full-year revenues stood at £13.6m for the period to May 31.

Although down on a year ago, Mr Smith said the business had made good progress, adding it had recovered from a difficult time when bosses were forced to make redundancies after poor demand and product delays hit performance.

He also revealed it had sent more than 1,500 examples of its Orpheus product to a customer since its launch in November last year, and conformed more than 150 test units are now with companies across the telecoms and aerospace sectors.

Mr Smith added: “The thing that gave us hope throughout it all was that we were getting positive noises coming out of customers.

“That has started translating into orders.

“We have put in a lot of hard work and there’s more to be done, but we are seeing good opportunities with broadband.

“We are seeing a much wider spectrum of potential customers and that will benefit what we are doing in Sedgefield.

“By the end of this month there will be about 150 samples delivered and each of them is a salesman out in the field working for us.

“Once people have got the product in their hands, they can see how good it is.”

Earlier this year, Filtronic revealed a lucrative deal to help a US customer extend transmission of high-capacity telecoms data over a 12-mile range with Orpheus.

It is also working with a European customer on antennas, which are used to increase the performance of mobile phone masts.

Filtronic has been based at NetPark after leaving the former RFMD microelectronics plant, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, when the US firm departed the North-East.