The days of internet-free flights are numbered. Soon, we’ll all be browsing sky-high, and we might not even have to settle for dodgy speeds either.
Over 100 British Airways airplanes will soon offer in-flight Wi-Fi, bringing customers speeds of between 70-100Mbps. The service will use GoGo’s 2Ku technology, utilising both ground stations and satellites in space to deliver decent internet during long-haul flights.
The first 2Ku-friendly British Airways aircraft is expected to take flight in early 2017, with most installations in line to be completed by 2019.
Check out this video for an overview of 2Ku:
According to ISPReview, GoGo’s technology is poised for a roll-out on 118 British Airways, four Aer Lingus, and 15 Iberia long-haul aircraft.
In a statement, Michael Small, GoGo’s President and CEO, said:
“We are delighted to bring GoGo’s industry leading 2Ku technology to three of the most iconic brands in commercial aviation. 2Ku is delivering a ground-like performance to aircraft flying around the world today.”
Unfortunately, while this is certainly good news for passengers, it might not work out so well in practice. After all, while 70Mbps downlink speeds sound great, sharing that between passengers will reduce performance significantly. What’s more, GoGo currently charges £20 for a one-day pass – although regular travellers can bag monthly passes for £55. That’s not cheap.
Nevertheless, we’d rather have some internet than no internet at all.
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Do you think all airlines should offer good in-flight Wi-Fi? Let us know in the comments.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.