In-flight movies will become a thing of the past, as Gogo will bring you Netflix 30,000 feet in the air by providing a powerful broadband connection and upgrading their systems.
- Gogo announced their 2Ku technology, boasting 70 Mbps by using 180 satellites
- Their previous ATG-4 system only had capabilities of 9.8 Mbps
- A number of 8 airlines have already signed up for Gogo’s 2Ku systems
- It will take a long time to implement on all airplanes, and a long wait is expected
Gogo, an internet provider for thousands of airplanes, has recently made the announcement of their newest 2Ku satellite technology. They promise that it will provide far speedier internet connections while the passengers enjoy their flight. In fact, they have placed an emphasis on streaming from Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, HBO GO, or others.
For the most part, WiFi on airplanes is highly restrictive and provides slow connections. While casual browsing features no problems, actual streaming of movies, for example, is mainly out of the question. The connections are unstable and slow, and most of the time passengers have to witness the fight between their patience and the dreaded buffering symbol.
However, Gogo has just received certification to implement their new technology on airplanes. This will be a beneficial switch from their air-to-ground ATG-4 systems to the newest air-to-satellite 2Ku system. While their older technologies offered 9.8 Mbps, the upcoming 2Ku boasts 70 Mbps by using 180 of the available satellites around the world.
It should be noted that these are theoretical speeds. Do not expect to download with 70 Mbps, as it’s just a maximum that can be reached in theory. It’s still many times more efficient than ATG-4 though, and the passengers are sure to feel it.
Gogo praises their new technology as being equal or surpassing any available systems currently on the market. During a test with several journalists on board, they successfully had 40 devices stream HD content while the rest of them were provided with smooth browsing experiences. If you’re on a fully loaded plane though and everyone wants to get online, the real-life experience might differ.
Eight airlines have already signed up for the Gogo 2Ku system, including Aeromexico, Delta, and Virgin Atlantic. It would take a while. Given the speed that new technologies are usually implemented on airplanes, it’s likely that new systems will be brought on the market before all of them have officially installed the 2Ku system. It’s a difficult process that will certainly not happen overnight.
To instate the new technologies required, companies need to keep planes on the ground for a while, which results in a loss of profits. However, it may be necessary, as fast WiFi might just become a requirement for most passengers. The question now stands on whether or not they’re willing to pay those extra charges for it.
Image source: airwaysnews.com
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.