Delta Airlines is installing Wi-Fi on all its domestic flights. It will be available on more than 330 Delta aircraft in 2009, the most expansive inflight broadband offering of any U.S. air carrier.
Aircell will install the company’s Mobile Broadband Network, Gogo, to enable Wi-Fi enabled devices, such as laptops, smartphones and PDAs, to access the Internet, corporate VPNs, corporate and personal e-mail accounts, as well as SMS texting and instant messaging services.
Gogo will be available to customers for a flat fee of $9.95 on flights of three hours or less, and $12.95 on flights of more than three hours.
Aircell uses an exclusive FCC frequency license to provide a cellular data channel to airplanes. It currently uses CDMA EVDO Rev A to deliver an effective data rate of more than 12 Mbps peak to Gogo-equipped aircraft. By the end of 2009, Aircell says further advances in existing technologies will enable Aircell to deliver a raw data rate of up to 22.7 Mbps to aircraft.
Aircell has installed 92 cell towers across the country to enable coast-to-coast service and will add 400 more towers to accommodate growing demand for the service. Each tower covers a 350-mile span. Aircraft are equipped with three antennas to receive the digital signal to create the hot spot within the plane’s cabin.
American Airlines and Virgin Airlines also provide Aircell service on certain domestic flights.
Satellite-based Row 44, supplies the technology for Alaska Airlines and Southwest, while JetBlue uses technology from its subsidiary LiveTV and is offering wireless access free on its one test airplane, which flies cross-country.
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