AirCell has completed an airborne demonstration program of its in flight WiFi system. Targeted for commercial deployment in 2007, the AirCell Broadband System will enable airline passengers to use their own Wi-Fi and cellular devices such as laptops, PDAs, phones and Blackberries in a fully integrated wireless cabin over an affordable, broadband air-to-ground link.
Aircell says its installation and operating costs will be a fraction of similar systems that use satellites because the system uses standardized equipment and a direct air-to-ground link. AirCell has installed special upturned antennas on an existing 125 cellular base stations across the US, with which it plans to backhaul data and voice over WiFi connections, without the need for a satellite.
Today’s Airfone service, a unit of Verizon, currently monopolizes the seatback phones used on many airlines. It uses a narrowband connection to the ground, which limits the number of simultaneous users.
The 8 MHz of spectrum used for the terrestrial link, is expected to be divided into either 2 MHz and 6 MHz bands or two 4 MHz bands. Two bidders are expected to offer services. AirCell is one of them. Verizon’s Airfone, which currently runs many phones on the seatbacks of airplanes, will likely be the other
“By providing almost every ground-based connection option (CDMA, GSM, Wi-Fi) and the means to control it, the AirCell approach would let airlines choose their solution to in-flight telephony,” stated Terry Wiseman, Publisher, AIRFAX.com. “Choice is the operable word here.”
The flight demonstration program showcased an advanced technology prototype of the AirCell Broadband System. Key demonstration system components and technical features included:
- A Broadband Air-to-Ground Link that uses custom-designed EVDO wireless technology. The link provides a high-speed connection directly from the aircraft to the ground, delivering a “to-the-seat” user experience similar to a DSL link on the ground.
- A Cabin Telecommunications Router (CTR) that provides a high-speed, in-cabin hotspot for Wi-Fi-equipped devices (802.11b/g) including Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phones.
- Multiple Cabin Picocells supporting CDMA and GSM voice communications for commercial cell phones.
AirCell remains the only company to receive regulatory approval to use cellular frequencies for airborne telecommunications. The AirCell Broadband System is targeted for commercial deployment in 2007. Pending the acquisition of a spectrum license from the FCC, the AirCell network will initially cover the continental U.S. and will be expandable to include Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
AirCell and competitor Verizon’s Airfone, utilize a terrestrial link. Satellite links are used by Boeing’s Connexion and OnAir.
Connexion and Intel have collaborated on the high-speed, in-flight Wi-Fi service. They offer both flat-rate and metered charges. For flights of six hours or more, $29.95; with three to six hour flights, $19.95. But it’s mostly available on international flights. Connexion uses Eutelsat over Europe. UTStarcom’s MovingMedia 2000 network solution provides the IP transport mechanism to provide cellular service for passengers on commercial airlines (and trains).
Competitor OnAir, a joint venture of Airbus and Tenzing, uses Inmarsat’s new spotbeam satellite. That will provide some 492Kbits/second to aircraft cabins when it becomes fully operational next year.
Inmarsat’s Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN), is scheduled for rollout in 2006. The first I-4 satellite was launched this March with the second Inmarsat-4 scheduled to launch later this year.
Inmarsat 4-F1 will be operated over the Indian Ocean to cover Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Inmarsat 4-F2 will serve South America, most of North America, the Atlantic Ocean and part of the Pacific Ocean.
DailyWireless has more on Connexion’s Press Junket, Intelsat Spotbeam Launched, Airfone Adding WiFi, Aircell for Planes and FCC Rules on Airplane Cellular.
