Panasonic Avionics (PAC) will add low earth orbit satellites to its inflight internet offerings, thanks to a partnership with OneWeb. The long-expected distribution agreement will enable PAC to market, sell, and support OneWeb’s high-speed, low-latency LEO in-flight broadband services to commercial airlines worldwide.
IFC
Starlink Aviation opens up for BizAv orders
Starlink for business aviation is officially on the market, coinciding with the NBAA 2022 conference in Orlando. The company is now accepting orders for the inflight internet service, with hardware to ship in 2023.
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.
TIM, Intelsat team up for free 2Ku inflight internet in Brazil
Subscribers on Brazil’s largest mobile phone company network now can access inflight internet for free. TIM Black and TIM Black Família customers can now browse, message, and more on domestic and international flights operated by GOL and LATAM, thanks to a partnership with Intelsat.
Can inflight Wi-Fi ever be profitable?
Airlines should not expect their inflight connectivity solutions to be profitable. At least not directly so. And Air Canada seems OK with that situation, finding other ways to justify the proposition.
Alaska Airlines adds 100K elite benefits, including free inflight WiFi
How much is a year of free inflight WiFi worth? Top tier elites in the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program can make that decision, thanks to the carrier’s new 100K Choice Benefit option.
UK sees “substantial lessening of competition” risk in proposed Viasat/Inmarsat merger
Their overlap in the inflight connectivity segment could derail the proposed merger between Viasat and Inmarsat. UK regulators announced plans to further investigate the competitive impact of the deal.
ThinKom, Inmarsat Global partner for military connectivity boost
Inflight connectivity comes with special needs when military aircraft are involved. ThinKom and Inmarsat Government have teamed up to address those challenges, with a new modem/antenna combination to support DoD activity around the globe.
Seeking a connected aircraft timeline
For nearly a decade the promise of reduced maintenance delays and operational savings has been a core factor in pitching airlines on inflight internet service. And for roughly that same period of time airlines have been wondering if those connected aircraft benefits will ever really arrive.