TMCnet News
ViaSat system aims to deliver 12 Mbps Internet speed to passengers in-flightSep 12, 2012 (AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION via COMTEX) -- California, USA-based high-speed consumer broadband service Exede Internet said it is expanding to serve commercial airlines, working with satellite services provider ViaSat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT) to offer a system is capable of delivering 12 Mbps or more to each connected passenger. The company said that a new Exede in-flight Internet service from ViaSat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT) is designed to eclipse the service quality and speeds of other in-cabin airline broadband services. According to the company, the more favourable economics of the ViaSat system enable airlines to specify a high-speed service level to each passenger, rather than simply an aggregate amount of bandwidth to the plane that leaves passengers competing for service. It said that the major differentiator for Exede Internet is an innovative Ka-band satellite system, featuring ViaSat-1, the world's highest capacity communications satellite. The high-capacity ViaSat system has the ability to offer significantly higher transmission speeds, more bandwidth for each passenger, less network congestion, and more attractive airtime pricing than other in-flight Internet access alternatives. The full aircraft system, the first of its kind for commercial aviation, is undergoing certification by the Federal Aviation Administration, according to Exede. ViaSat said it is already under contract to install its in-flight system, working together with partner LiveTV, onto 370 aircraft operated by JetBlue and one other U.S. carrier. Installations are expected to begin later this year with all 370 aircraft scheduled to be online by the end of calendar 2015. About ViaSat (www.viasat.com). Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected] |