Gogo hit the halfway point in its 5G network deployment. The company announced installation of the 75th upgraded tower, of the planned 150 expected at service launch. The company says the network remains on track for commercial service launch later this year.
We’ve been testing our network and we’re pleased with the results we’re seeing. Gogo 5G is going to deliver on everything we’ve promised to the market.
– Dave Glenn, senior vice president of customer operations
With just 50% of the towers online, the company can deliver coverage to far more than half of the business aviation route miles flown across the United States.
Filling in the gaps remains a critical part of the network rollout, of course, but the basic footprint could accommodate early adopters or significant testing as the full implementation evolves.
Gogo expects to deliver ~25 Mbps on average with peak speeds in the 75-80 Mbps range on the new ATG network. It also recently announced plans to integrate OneWeb LEO satellite services into the Gogo AVANCE platform, though that rollout will be a bit later than the 5G services on the ground.
Gogo is working with Duncan Aviation to complete the first-article Supplemental Type Certification (STC) for the onboard 5G system hardware along with STCs that will cover more than 30 aircraft models. Additional STCs are being developed by several other Gogo authorized dealers, and at the factory by business aviation aircraft manufacturers.
The Gogo 5G network is also subject to a lawsuit from SmartSky. That process continues to work its way through the courts. Depending on the outcome the 5G network could either be cleared to fly or grounded before it ever really gets off the ground.
More on Gogo’s 5G network evolution:
- SmartSky hits Gogo with patent lawsuit
- Gogo, OneWeb team for BizAv satellite service
- Gogo 5G test network now online
- Making the Business (Aviation) case for LEO at Gogo
- Gogo snags 5G STC partnership for 30 aircraft types
- Gogo boasts 25 Mbps per plane (or more!) for new 5G network
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