Gogo is getting back into the satellite connectivity business in a big way. The company announced a deal to integrate the OneWeb low earth orbit (LEO) constellation into its business aviation connectivity network, providing global coverage for its customers.
This will be a fast and affordable broadband system that will provide best-in-class global performance on the broadest range of aircraft in business aviation. We want to give everyone in business aviation the ability to have an exceptional broadband experience regardless of where they fly, or what size aircraft they fly.
– Sergio Aguirre, Gogo Business Aviation’s president and chief operating officer
The solution will include one fuselage-mounted unit with an integrated antenna, modem, power supply and RF converter; will only require 28 volts of DC power; will not rely on aircraft-positioning data; and will include Gogo’s AVANCE router.
Gogo’s AVANCE platform will dynamically select the most efficient and cost-effective network over which to transmit the data, making the process seamless to the passengers on board.
Gogo CEO Oakleigh Thorne hyped the potential for a LEO partner for most of the past year. OneWeb has been seen as the natural fit for that offering. With that partnership now confirmed the companies can begin marketing the offering and lining up customers.
“Our agreement with Gogo Business Aviation represents a leap forward for business aviation connectivity,” said Ben Griffin, vice president Mobility at OneWeb. “By harnessing the power of our LEO constellation to deliver robust, consistent, and reliable global coverage, OneWeb and Gogo will be able to offer an unmatched experience to business jet operators and passengers worldwide.”
The electronically steered antenna comes from Hughes. “The world has been waiting for a high performance, cost-effective, flat panel antenna solution to realize the global, high-speed, low-latency promise of LEO satellite broadband – and Hughes has delivered,” said Reza Rasoulian, vice president, Hughes. “Gogo’s selection of the Hughes ESA solution affirms our engineering excellence and unlocks the value of OneWeb’s global capacity for high-speed, inflight broadband anywhere on the planet.”
True to its prior comments, Gogo expects the OneWeb LEO solution to integrate into the existing AVANCE on-board network. The on-board hardware requirements are minimal, reducing installation complexity and costs.
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In many ways the announcement today furthers the value of the AVANCE platform, even before the newer services – including the Gogo 5G ATG network upgrade – come online. This allows Gogo to maintain or expand its business aviation customer base. This is increasingly important as competition and lawsuits from SmartSky potentially draw planes to alternate networks.
More on Gogo’s LEO ambitions:
- Hughes shows off flat panel antenna for OneWeb service
- OneWeb secures launch plan with SpaceX, capacity deal with Speedcast
- Making the Business (Aviation) case for LEO at Gogo
- Gogo sees LEO as part of its future
More news from EBACE 2022
- Gogo, OneWeb team for BizAv satellite service
- Inmarsat SwiftJet boosts BizAv bandwidth
- Astronics, LG grow OLED display partnership
- OneWeb, Satcom Direct, QEST team for BizAv internet offering
- The "Evolution" of Jet ConneX delivers more for passengers
- In-flight connectivity’s next major hurdle: Smaller planes
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