Gogo’s legal victory at the end of September allows the company to continue selling its new Gogo 5G network, even as SmartSky believes it will succeed with an appeal to have the injunction reinstated. The ruling also saved the company a few million dollars.
air-to-ground
Gogo completes 5G tower deployment
With the final panels hoisted on to a tower atop a mountain in Oregon this week, Gogo now claims a completed 5G air-to-ground network as part of the company’s in-flight connectivity offerings. It is a major milestone for the rollout, but it will still be some time before planes are flying with the new network online.
A make or break situation for SmartSky, Gogo in patent showdown
Can you have a continuous inflight internet connection, even when the link between an aircraft and the ground occasionally breaks? This question is one of several at the crux of the SmartSky/Gogo patent dispute. And as SmartSky appeals the ruling from earlier late last month denying it a preliminary injunction, this technical nuance takes the spotlight.
Gogo evades 5G injunction in SmartSky suit
Gogo scored an early victory in the proceedings of the patent infringement lawsuit brought by SmartSky. The District Court in Delaware declined SmartSky’s request for a preliminary injunction, allowing Gogo to continue developing, installing, and marketing the Gogo 5G solution.
SkyFive, Safran Passenger Innovations push forward on connectivity in China
High speed inflight connectivity over China took another step forward earlier this month, as Safran Passenger Innovations (SPI) and SkyFive announced a partnership to integrate their services for airlines. The SkyFive air-to-ground networking hardware will connect to SPI’s RAVE on-board platform, with promises of incredibly high speed, low latency service to passengers.
SmartSky offers details on nationwide network deployment
Wondering where SmartSky’s air-to-ground inflight WiFi towers are? The company appears happy to share that information. It released a map showing the coverage footprint in response to “several requests for a coverage map to illustrate the availability of SmartSky’s inflight connectivity and the distinctive way in which it is delivered.”
SkyFive secures further funding for network expansion
The technology is proven, with hundreds of aircraft connected across Europe. But building out a new in-flight connectivity platform and deploying it to an airline remains an expensive proposition. Global air-to-ground technology provider SkyFive plans to address that major challenge with a new round of funding.
Intelsat goes multi-orbit with OneWeb LEO option for airlines
Commercial airlines will soon have another option for in-flight connectivity (IFC) delivered via low earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Intelsat secured a global distribution partnership with OneWeb, allowing for the development of a multi-orbit offering. The partnership builds on Intelsat’s extensive IFC experience and existing geo-stationary (GEO) satellite service, augmented with the OneWeb LEO constellation.
airBaltic teases Starlink in-flight internet consideration
Forget detailed RFP cycles or convoluted consulting agreements. When it comes to considering SpaceX’s Starlink as a potential in-flight internet service provider airBaltic CEO Martin Gauss took to Twitter.
SmartSky completes nationwide network
The SmartSky nation-wide network is now complete. The new air-to-ground in-flight internet solution can deliver connectivity across the continental United States via hundreds of towers.