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In-flight Connectivity Takes to the Skies

January 11, 2014
Business Aviation News
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In-Flight Connectivity Solutions ProvidersOnly weeks after the U.S. lifted the ban on in-flight connectivity, Global Eagle Entertainment showcased their new satellite Internet system at the Consumer Electronics Show.

The company claims that their satellite connection provides a more reliable system than air-to-ground providers.

“The satellite is already there and it’s possible to have more bandwidth when needed,” said Simon McLellan, chief engineer for Row44, the technology division of California-based Global Eagle, continuing his explanation that a satellite connection, “allows you to expand the capacity when the demand grows.”

With the demand for passenger in-flight connectivity with mobiles and tablets, and with the limitations lifted, the sky is no longer the limit for aviation communications providers.

Global Eagle have already signed a deal with Southwest Airlines and are set to rival Gogo, who have announced modifications to their ground-based connections in order to provide a hybrid system that will utilise both land and satellite transmissions.

Installation and set up of the system will cost carriers in the region of $300,000 to $500,000 – a cost that will be recouped via passenger fees for the use of the in-flight connectivity services. Some carriers may offer a free connection to premium or first class passengers, but demand is so great for in-flight connectivity, that it will become a matter of competitive interest over the coming year.

Business aviation passengers travelling on private aircraft have enjoyed in-flight connectivity for some time, as expectations are high for these premium services when high-end executive travellers need to operated effectively in their airborne offices.

It is expected that many providers will follow the trend for in-flight connectivity, in spite of the mixed bag of opinions from some big airlines – we shall see!

 

GoGo Introduce In-Flight Talk and Text Service for Passenger Connections

November 8, 2013
Business Aviation News
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Aircraft Internet & Wi-Fi Services for Business AviationIn-flight Wi-Fi is not breaking news; its popularity continues to grow as passengers begin to expect more from flight operators in terms of connectivity.

In light of this, GoGo has introduced its latest in in-flight technology, giving Smartphone users the opportunity to make phone calls and text as though they were on the ground.

The GoGo air-to-ground connection will operate through the aircraft’s wireless network instead of the picocells, traditionally used for telephone connections.

New rules, sanctioned by the FAA, now give passengers permission to use their electronic devices; Smartphones and tablet technology during the entire flight, even during take-off and landing, of course, still subject to the requirements of the individual airlines.

Data transfers must still be restricted to ‘airplane mode’ and transmissions across cellular networks are still a ‘no-no’, but with a GoGo app, Smartphone users will be able to roam on the aircrafts in-flight service as though they were on the ground.

Other providers of such in-flight Wi-Fi solutions, such as ARINC Direct, offer seamless connectivity to business aviation passengers.  The business passenger places a generally higher demand upon the airline operators in terms of connectivity and welcome the ‘office-in-the-sky’ scenario.

Yonder Aircraft Internet – ViaSat Providers for Business Aviation

October 18, 2013
Business Aviation News
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Aircraft Internet with ARINC Cabin Connect

ViaSat, providers of Yonder Internet Service for business jets say their customers are feeling the benefit of their high speed aircraft internet after an increase of 60% in bandwidth, new systems and ground station upgrades.

Aircraft internet is rapidly becoming a necessity on the modern executive jet aircraft.  Passenger communications solutions are big news in the business aviation services sector.

With the demands on the increase, the pressure is upon aircraft internet and aircraft wifi providers to bring new, fast and reasonably priced solutions to the industry.

Aircraft satellite communications bring speed, efficiency and cost effectivity to a world that needs seamless global connections.  Business Jet passengers need to work at the same levels of productivity as they do in their ground-based offices and customer service is a firm ground in competitive conditions.

Aircraft internet providers for business aviation such as ARINC Direct, are constantly expanding their extensive suite of solutions.  Competitive packages are individually tailored to suit their customers whether they operate a single executive jet or an entire fleet.

JetBlue Sign Aviation Technical for In-Flight Wifi

September 6, 2013
Business Aviation News
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in flight wifiAviation Technical, Washington-based providers have been awarded the contract by New York-based low cost airline, JetBlue to install in-flight Wifi technology on their fleet of 130 Airbus A320 aircraft.  To installations are expected to near completion by the end of 2014.

Designed by LiveTV, who will give training and technical support to Aviation Technical Services, the technology will provide Ka-band connectivity.

JetBlue’s brand for the in-flight wifi is called ‘Fly-Fi’ and will use satellite networks for connectivity, rather than the more common Ku-band provision, which uses ground-based stations.  This will give faster and more reliable connection.

The Ka-band operates within a higher bandwidth and offering eight times more than the Ku-band, which is also more highly congested.

Other in-flight wifi providers, such as ARINC, use Iridium and Inmarsat satellite networks to provide a seamless global connectivity for their customers within the Ka-band with SwiftBroadband and their CabinConnect solutions.

Global Passenger Communications & In-Flight Entertainment Industry Expected to Reach $3 Billion by 2017

September 5, 2013
Business Aviation News
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passenger communicationsIt was recently found, according to a new market research report by commercial aviation analyst, Adeline Fernandez that the passenger communications and in-flight entertainment sector market could reach $3 billion by 2017, compared to $2 billion in 2012.

The ever increasing demand for improved in-flight entertainment and the growing need for fast and cost-efficient passenger communications is fuelled by the huge wireless industry.  Most passengers now want to use their own devices and Smartphones on board and do not want to be subject to the traditional restrictions.

As technology is constantly evolving, more advanced use of devices is expected and greater bandwidth is required.  WiFi systems for passenger communications and in-flight entertainment are set to take over in commercial aviation from retrofit systems by manufacturing companies.

Commercial and Business aviation passengers now want to use their phones, devices and laptops as efficiently in the air, at 40,000ft as they do on the ground.  This will fuel the installation of wireless connectivity on board aircraft as airlines vie for passengers.

Fast UK In-Flight WiFi Possible by 2014

August 20, 2013
Business Aviation News
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in flight wifiLast week, the UK’s OFCOM began a deliberation into the possibility of the authorisation of the use of ESOMPs to enable in-flight wifi with speeds capable of streaming content from sites such as BBC iPlayer and Netflix.

If the proposed license of a new satellite system is approved, the connections, up to 10 times faster than current in-flight wifi could be available in the air, on the ground within the UK rail networks and on-board ships as soon as 2014.

In the U.S. the FCC have already authorised the use of Earth Stations on Mobile Platforms (Sumps) which are the key to enabling the fast connections on a global scale.

It is unclear, as yet, just how many of the British-owned airlines will actually use the technology, given the inevitability of high costs.  Upgrades to equipment would be needed and some airlines are reluctant to commit at this stage, as users on-board may be dismissive of the high prices, preferring to remain connected with the 3 or 4G mobile option.

ARINC, U.S. based industry-leading passenger communications providers offer, under the US regulations, next-generation passenger connectivity solutions for commercial and business jet aircraft with CabinConnect.

Passenger Demand Grows for In-Flight Wifi in the Social Media Explosion

July 5, 2013
Business Aviation News
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in-flight wifiIt looks like the days of turning off our mobile devices on aircraft could one day be behind us as the demand grows for passenger in-flight wifi connectivity.  Many passengers now want to tweet their journey or update Facebook statuses as they fly, posting photos of the clouds, their meals or cities from the air.  Social networking, as we all know, is huge and in-flight wifi is a necessary fuel for that fire.

Recent surveys show that a quarter of British holidaying passengers out of 5,000 believe that free in-flight wifi is not only necessary, but a human right, according to HolidayExtras, although it is also recorded that 84% of these passengers are unwilling to pay the current high rates charged for in-flight wifi.

Now that the US FAA declared the use of the new models of mobile phones and device safe to use in ‘airplane mode,’ the floodgates are open in terms of demand for cheaper, faster in-flight wifi connectivity and this leaves many airlines thinking about the possibilities for revenue versus the inevitable costs involved with upgrades to their existing equipment.

Within the next few years, Inmarsat, the British satellite communications network, will be launching three new satellites, which will give global connectivity possibilities and could spell faster and cheaper in-flight wifi, but, until then, with only four commercial airlines currently offering free in-flight wifi, competition is slim and the cost implications for the passenger still high.

While business passengers enjoy the versatility of in-flight wifi, it looks to be a while before the demand is met for the average holidaymaker.

Air France Lift Restrictions on In-Flight Entertainment (IFE)

July 3, 2013
Business Aviation News
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Good news for Air France travellers, who no longer have to wait for the all-clear and can now use the in-flight entertainment (IFE) as soon as they take their seats.

This relaxation of the IFE restrictions follows BA’s decision last year to let long-haul passengers watch their IFE screens straightaway.  After months of intense negotiations with the Civil Aviation Authority, BA became the first British carrier to do so.

IFE has come a long way over the past few decades; from simple in-flight movie provision to personal touch screen technology and internet connectivity.  IFE connectivity providers work hard to stay ahead of the game when it comes to innovation and continually update their services, products and solutions for airlines to maximize efficiency, cost-effectivity and enhance the experience of the passenger.

IFE providers, such as ARINC, have over eight decades of industry experience and are able to offer seamless connections and a vast range of solutions for both cabin and flight deck.

kevbo1983 / Foter / CC BY-NC-ND

EEC Agree to Ka-band Switch for Improved Satellite Broadband

March 13, 2013
Business Aviation News
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It has recently been announced that the Electronic Communications Committee (ECC) has agreed to a key decision, regarding the use of Earth Stations On Mobile Platforms (ESOMPs), which will enable significant improvements to satellite broadband services for planes, trains and ships.

The changes and improvements should come within weeks of this announcement, following the identification by the EEC, of the technical and operational requirements for the use of ESOMPs in the geostationary satellite networks over certain parts of the ‘Ka-band’, ensuring existing fixed satellite and service networks are protected from interference.

Ka-band satellites use small spot beams which will lead to increased spectrum efficiency, allowing the use of smaller terminal antennae that can be mounted cost-effectively, to aircraft, ships or mobile land vehicles.  The use of such ESOMPs will provide increased spectrum efficiency and more capacity than existing mobile systems in the Ku-band range.

New Business Aviation Broadband Solution to be Launched by Inmarsat and Kymeta

March 10, 2013
Business Aviation News
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A agreement has been signed by Inmasat and Kymeta to develop a new satellite antenna that will enable business jets to use high speed broadband connectivity worldwide using Inmasat’s Global Xpress (GX) service

Only GX users will be able to use the propriety Kymeta Aero Antenna enabling the two company’s opportunities in the fast expanding business aviation market.

Managing Director of Inmarsat Global Xpress, Leo Mondale said, “Over the coming 10 years, some 10,000 new business jets are forecast to enter service. In this changing world, where enhancing the productivity and effectiveness of the business executive is paramount, the need to offer constant connectivity is non-negotiable. It is this absolute requirement to keep executives connected, wherever they are, that is driving demand for solutions which support smaller aircraft. Our partnership with satellite technology specialist, Kymeta, will make business jet travel an even smarter and more efficient option for executives”

CEO of Kymet, Vern Fotheringham added, “Our technology for flat-panel, beam-forming antennas will enable a number of new markets and a new generation of customers to benefit from lower cost, high-speed satellite internet connectivity anywhere in the world. We are excited to reach this milestone and engage with Inmarsat to bring next-generation broadband services into the global business aviation market.”

Inmarsat is a long standing player in the industry providing passenger communications solutions for both commercial airlines and business jets.