German airline Lufthansa has stepped up efforts to revive in-flight WiFi access, reports InfoWorld. One potential partner could be T-Mobile, according to a report published Wednesday by the Wall Street Journal, citing industry sources familiar with the negotiations.
Luxembourg satellite operator SES Global and ViaSat also are involved in discussions that could lead to the implementation of Internet service in Lufthansa’s planes.
Lufthansa equipped more than 60 of its 80 long-haul planes to provide Internet access using Boeing’s Connexion service from early 2004 through the end of last year, when Boeing decided to shut it down. Boeing said that it had looked for buyers for Connexion but failed to make a deal.
Twelve airlines installed the Connexion system in nearly 160 planes, offering service in Europe and Asia as well as on long-haul flights to North America, but none domestically over the United States.
Customers paid $10 per hour or $27 for 24 hours, which could include connecting flights.
Meanwhil AirCell, which won the air-to-ground spectrum auction last year announced that American Airlines will test broadband services with passengers across the U.S. beginning in 2008. It will be usable by passengers equipped with 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi enabled devices for real-time access to the Internet (using the passenger’s own browser) or voice over WiFi phones. Customers that currently have an AirCell Axxess communications system aboard their aircraft can easily add the new AirCell broadband link by installing the appropriate radio and a small, air-to-ground antenna.
AirCell paid $31.3 million at an FCC auction last year to take over the 800 MHz frequencies once used for (wired) air-phone service from Verizon’s Airfone.
Other companies planning to offer WiFi in aircraft include JetBlue’s LiveTV subsidiary which won a tiny part of the spectrum, and may also introduce in-flight service. Row 44 and Starling, also plan to use Ku-band satellite services. Starling’s SKYLink by ARINC Direct (pdf), claims to be the only in-flight broadband satellite service for business aircraft.
Related DailyWireless stories include; Dis Connexion, Connexion Dying, AirFone Dead, Wireless Voice on Airplanes? Yes & No, Connexion Dying, AirFone Dead, Airplane Wireless Auction (Virtually) Over, AirCell Demos Inflight WiFi, and Connexion Press Junket.
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