Despite Boeing’s early efforts to make satellite service the go-to option for in-flight internet, the rather costly connection solution never really took off . It kind of feels, satellite connectivity is set to experience something of a resurgence — just last month Gogo announced its plans to blanket the globe with Ka-band coverage by 2015, and now JetBlue’s announcing that it’ll be the primary to deliver an on-board Ka-band network. In an agreement with ViaSat, the airline intends to bring the service to its greater than 170 aircraft, beginning installation in 2012. The brand new broadband option will reportedly offer higher transmission speeds and more bandwidth per passenger for less money than other in-flight internet alternatives. With Lufthansa’s new FlyNet service also sporting satellite-enabled WiFi, it’d seem things are looking up for the way forward for the once doomed broadband solution.
Formalized Agreement with JetBlue Airways for Ka-band In-flight High-Speed Internet Service
Contract includes initial equipment and services order for over $30 millionCarlsbad, Calif. – ViaSat Inc. (Nasdaq:VSAT) and JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq: JBLU) have reached a definitive agreement to deploy the 1st Ka-band commercial aviation broadband network using ViaSat-1, the area’s highest capacity Ka-band satellite. The agreement formalizes the memorandum of understanding, entered into last September, wherein the corporations announced their intention to create the industry’s best in-flight broadband for commercial aviation, using ViaSat’s innovative Ka-band satellite technology. Ka-band has the power to provide higher transmission speeds, more bandwidth for every customer, and more attractive airtime pricing than other high-speed in-flight Internet access alternatives. The agreement includes an order worth over $30 million for Ka-band airborne terminals and services to outfit the JetBlue fleet of greater than 170 aircraft.
“During the last few months we’ve worked closely with JetBlue and LiveTV to finalize a user-friendly and scalable satellite network for in-flight broadband,” said Mark Dankberg, ViaSat CEO and chairman. “We believe the economics of Ka-band will create an atmosphere that might engage more passengers and offer a broader range of online experiences inside the air.”
Under the agreement, ViaSat will provide satellite broadband terminals for installation at the airline’s Airbus A320 and Embraer E190 aircraft together with two-way transmission bandwidth services using the WildBlue satellite broadband network, including the high-capacity ViaSat-1 satellite. JetBlue would be the first airline to receive the ViaSat Ka-band system, and people initial installations are expected to be quickly followed by deployment onboard the Continental Airlines fleet, as announced on March 22 by JetBlue’s wholly-owned subsidiary, LiveTV, and subject to final agreement. Installations are expected to start in 2012.
“We believe JetBlue, LiveTV, and ViaSat make an excellent team, enabling our customers to stick connected, informed and entertained while within the air,” said Robin Hayes, JetBlue chief commercial officer. “Together, we are going to introduce a product so one can give customers true social networking connectivity at altitude – a 21st Century product so they can scale with the ever-increasing reliance all of us have on our personal communications devices. We can even have the pliability to design content and value-points around customer’s needs, whether that be emailing or streaming movies, at a far more competitive price point than today’s ground-to-air products.”
The system, the 1st of its kind for commercial aviation, needs to be certificated by the Federal Aviation Administration. LiveTV will manage the certification, integrate the ViaSat broadband and related components onboard the aircraft, and supply the Wi-Fi enabled services into the cabin.
“We have now been anticipating the best technology to deliver the best speed and lowest cost connectivity to an aircraft,” said Glenn Latta, president of LiveTV. “Our partnership with ViaSat will deliver a system that puts the airline back up to speed, allowing airlines the liberty to bundle and cost the service in ways in line with their brand.”
The in-flight Ka-band system being developed for JetBlue is likewise a key step in ViaSat’s expansion of its successful Yonder® global mobile satellite network to Ka-band in key international markets. ViaSat is adding capacity from regional partners to the network, along with Yahsat within the Middle East, be accessible to a rapidly growing base of aviation, maritime, and government subscribers now getting high-speed access from Ku-band satellites.
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