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.
business aviation
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.
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.”
Airshare selects Viasat for Challenger connectivity
Fractional jet operator Airshare will outfit its fleet of Challenger 350 and Challenger 3500 business jets with Viasat’s high-speed inflight connectivity. As the operator seeks to expand its footprint in the United States is sees inflight internet service as a critical factor in delivering increased productivity and efficiency for its customers.
Gogo sees 5G chip issues delaying deployment
Corporate jets are back in the air, and they’re more connected than ever. Gogo’s Q2 results indicates a strong rebound in activity for its corporate jet market, boosting revenues. But the company’s 5G network upgrade will slip a bit more owing to chip shortages.
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.
In-flight connectivity’s next major hurdle: Smaller planes
More than a thousand larger regional jets fly across North America. All of them deliver a sub-par inflight WiFi experience. But that could soon change, as multiple airlines move to upgrade the systems on board over the next few years.
Gogo grabs Hughes ESA exclusivity for BizAv OneWeb service
When Hughes Network Systems delivers its new electronically steered antenna (ESA) for connectivity via the OneWeb low earth orbit satellite constellation Gogo will be the only buyer for the business aviation market. The companies announced an exclusivity deal for the kit as part of a 10-year agreement.
The "Evolution" of Jet ConneX delivers more for passengers
Inmarsat’s aims to deliver connectivity speeds north of 100Mbps to private jets, thanks to upgrades of its Jet ConneX (JX) in-flight connectivity platform. The new JX Evolution program aims to improve performance on existing satellites, and also to further improve as seven additional satellites join the constellation over the next few years.