High above the clouds wouldn’t be the first place that Internet service would be available, however with more people flying than ever before in need of the latest technology, airlines are clamoring to have the best on-board WiFi experience.
Eight out of 10 people on a flight travel with a Smartphone, and passengers are seeking ways to watch TV, stream video and more. GoGo’s in-flight technology has allowed travelers to get online while on the plane since around 2009, notes the Dallas Morning News, but rapid technology on the ground is making for more consumer demands when flying.
Cell towers are being replaced with satellite-based systems, that according to the Dallas Morning News, are 10 to 20 times faster in the air, making for better connectivity in an age where consumers expect the same Internet service they may get at home.
American Airlines seeks to get out of its contract with its in-flight wireless provider, GoGo, in hopes that 200 of its planes can beat the competition with faster satellite-based technology.
Southwest Airlines already has some satellite-based technology in place, with 81 percent of its aircraft providing live streaming television with certain providers on-board, according to the newspaper. The airline, which charges about $8 a day for Internet, is looking to upgrade even beyond that.
Delta Air Lines also is in the midst of upgrading 250 planes with satellite-based technology, with United Airlines forecasting its entire fleet to have ground or satellite connections by May, 2016.
Henry Harteveldt, founder of Atmosphere Research Group, told the Dallas Morning News “the battle has shifted from who has connectivity to who has better connectivity.”
Pricing varies per airline and offering, with JetBlue offering free satellite service provided by ViaSat. This is for the lowest speed, however, with an option to pay for an upgrade to a higher speed.
Airlines, which want more consistent connectivity from gate to gate, hope pilots also can stay better connected with up-to-date weather information. However, satellite-based connectivity is more expensive and takes longer to install. Antennas also are heavier, “making them impractical for smaller planes used on regional flights. And there’s always federal regulations to consider when bolting something onto the outside of an aircraft.”
While some of the rollouts could take a significant amount of time, Tara Bamburg, Southwest’s assistant manager of WiFi and in-flight entertainment said, “in five years there’s going to be something that replaces what streaming we do have now. There’s going to be new technologies and new expectations.”
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