[SatNews] …the system enables airlines to specify a high-speed service level to each passenger—up to 12 Mbps to each seat—rather than simply an aggregate amount of bandwidth to the plane that leaves passengers competing for service...“Many people said the beam-to-beam handoff at 500 miles per hour couldn’t be done."
JetBlue’s new inflight Wi-Fi service called Fly-Fi is powered by ViaSat’s technology. The inflight broadband service, which ViaSat branded “Exede in the Air” is designed to deliver 12 mbps to each passenger in-flight rather than simply an aggregate amount of bandwidth to the plane that leaves passengers competing for service. In fact, because of the favorable economics of Exede, JetBlue is offering their Wi-Fi service for free. ViaSat execs have described the bandwidth economics as the same cost for airlines to provide a bag of peanuts to their passengers. It’s a truly innovative approach.
The Ka-band aeronautical terminal enabling the fastest in-flight Internet has passed 125 total units shipped. The ViaSat Inc. (Nasdaq:VSAT) terminal, an integrated modem-antenna-radome set, is the first to maintain a continuous link to aircraft in flight by performing seamless switching from beam-to-beam across spot beams from multiple Ka-band satellites.
The performance of the terminal is a key enabler in the rollout of approximately 400 aircraft that are scheduled to be outfitted with ViaSat Exede® In The Air service before the end of next year. Both JetBlue Airways and United Airlines have begun rolling out services, with installations ramping up for both.
“Many people said the beam-to-beam handoff at 500 miles per hour couldn’t be done, but we specialize in overcoming those types of challenges here at ViaSat,” said Don Buchman, ViaSat director of mobile broadband.
Exede in-flight Internet service can eclipse the service quality and speeds of other in-cabin airline broadband services through an innovative Ka-band satellite system. The more favorable economics of the ViaSat system enable airlines to specify a high-speed service level to each passenger—up to 12 Mbps to each seat—rather than simply an aggregate amount of bandwidth to the plane that leaves passengers competing for service.
The in-flight Internet system, the first of its kind for commercial aviation, is certified by the FAA on A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft and is licensed for mobile operation by the FCC. Learn more at.
