6 Major Providers Redefining Guest Experience with In-Flight Wi-Fi

Introduction

Staying connected has become a necessity these days. People want to access the internet even while flying and thus, inflight WiFi can enhance the guest experience. It has faced challenges like poor connectivity and unreliability but with advancements in technology, the service has improved over time. The current airborne WiFi market scenario is promising. As per a Coherent Market Insights report, the global airplane WiFi market was valued at US$ 7.6 Billion in 2022.

For every task, people heavily depend on digital connectivity, leading to an increased demand for uninterrupted internet access throughout. Airlines are investing in these services to gain a competitive advantage and enhance passenger experience.

Inflight connectivity service supports internet access and use of various online applications while flying on an aircraft. The technology behind it is complex and is based on either satellite or ground stations (A2G) connection.

Hardware devices fixed inside the plane make sure that the signals are transmitted and received properly, enhancing the connectivity. These devices are installed in a way to avoid interference with the avionics systems. Furthermore, the WiFi on personal devices is switched on, connecting it to the routers and the internet through satellites or A2G.

Read More: Delighting Passengers with Inflight Connectivity

Benefits of In-Flight Wi-Fi

Inflight WiFi has a range of benefits that provide a comfortable travel experience to the passengers. Some of the key benefits are:

• Passenger Productivity:

  Firstly, people can work remotely and attend to urgent calls using airplane WiFi, increasing their productivity. It is useful for professionals who are constantly travelling for work, need to attend virtual meetings, and meet deadlines.

• Passenger Entertainment:

  Secondly, airborne WiFi provides a promising guest experience with a diverse range of content and services. During long flights, passengers can get live updates, stream movies, TV shows and music.

• Information Access:

  Next, passengers can receive real-time updates on weather conditions, and flight updates throughout the journey.

• Revenue Generation:

  Additionally, passenger WiFi can be a source of revenue through WiFi subscription plans.

• Competitive Edge:

  Lastly, in this fast-paced world, airlines offering reliable high-speed internet will attract more passengers, giving them a competitive edge.

6 Major In-Flight Wi-Fi Providers

There are various players in this market globally, but the 6 major providers of this industry are –

1. Inmarsat:

It is the world’s leading in-flight internet service provider, having won an award for the same for four consecutive years. GX Aviation global service and the European Aviation Network (EAN) region-wide service are two of its market-leading solutions. It is a global high-speed inflight WiFi service specifically built for aviation. It adapts to the incoming needs of aviation and incorporates it in its system thus making it scalable. The future scope of this solution is to add seven more payloads to the five-satellite constellation boosting its broadband capabilities.

EAN has been designed specifically for Europe to cater to its congested airspace. It integrates a 4G LTE ground network with the satellite network to offer fast speed and low latency. The connection is consistent with no dropouts as both the components work together across both land and sea. Qatar Airways, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, and AirAsia have improved their guest experience using these services.

2.Gogo:

Firstly, Gogo has created innovations over the years to help people stay connected to their work even while flying. It has a range of offerings starting from broadband connectivity to entertainment services allowing passengers to have a pleasant guest experience. It also has a self-maintaining system, less aircraft downtime, 3D moving maps, billing management and more.

Secondly, Gogo Avance L3 Wi-Fi is one of the most affordable connectivity solutions supporting up to 25 devices. Its offerings include email, VPN, voice/text with friends and family, in-flight entertainment (on demand shows), and cockpit app data.

Lastly, Gogo Avance L5 and 4G Internet is an enhanced version of L3 which can support up to 40 devices. It supports streaming services such as YouTube, Netflix, etc. and provides Skype, Messenger Video and Wi-Fi calling opportunities as well. It primarily operates in US, Canada, Switzerland, and Mexico regions.

3. ViaSat:

ViaSat is a popular satellite internet provider offering in-flight connectivity to both commercial and business flights, ensuring excellent guest experience. Its constellation of satellites provides high-capacity connectivity even in the hardest to-reach places. In commercial aviation, it offers inflight WiFi with high bandwidth, no breakdowns or interruptions and supports the complex aviation environment. It also provides in-flight entertainment services including live TV, stored content and connected services enabling access to leading streaming providers.

Also, ViaSat’s passenger portal is an end-to-end solution allowing passengers to access all services at once like flight details, entertainment, etc. Their in-flight services do not only cater to the passengers but also the airlines. Its Advertising Revenue feature provides a range of ad units on the passenger’s in-flight portal leading to maximum revenue generation.

For business aviation, ViaSat offers 4 solutions – Jet Connex, ViaSat Ka, SwiftJet and SwiftBroadband. Jet Connex is suitable for data-intensive activities like transfer of large files, video streaming, business applications and more. It is currently installed in over 1500 jets. ViaSat Ka offers in-flight services to business jets with no speed limits thus making it fast and reliable.

Lastly, SwiftJet and SwiftBroadband offer services to business aviation over L-band. SwiftJet provides maximum speeds up to 2.6Mbps which is six times faster than what SwiftBroadband offers. SwiftJet is going to launch in commercial aviation as well.

4. Panasonic:

Panasonic Avionics provides AI & cloud-driven in-flight connectivity services globally in the commercial aviation domain. It offers gaming, TV entertainment solutions, weather forecasting & other technical services. The company claims that its services cover 99.8% of the flight routes used by the world’s airlines. Air France, Gulf Air, and Singapore Airlines are some of its prime clients.

Furthermore, Panasonic has partnered with OneWeb to provide its Low Earth Orbit (LEO) network to commercial aviation globally. The addition of LEO allows it to offer a multi-orbit network, providing low latency, an added advantage over other players. Both LEO and GEO networks together offer complete coverage throughout the journey and support speeds up to 32Mbps. Additionally, it offers a 360-degree technical and commercial support package to enhance guest experience for the passengers. It has subscription models available with no pre-set data limits or overage fees.

5. Global Eagle (Anuvu):

Providing 24/7 global support, it is a leading integrator balancing technology and services to enhance guest experience for its customers. Aviation is its core market segment wherein it combines various products and services to create an end-to-end solution. It offers multiple solutions to create a seamless travelling experience for the passengers.

Airconnect provides everyday connectivity services that allows passengers to browse or stream during a flight. This technology is customizable and allows airlines to maximize guest revenue through multiple incremental streams. The Airconnect IFE Pro system provides an easy-to-install solution offering entertainment services and content directly on all personal devices.

Airtime portal is Global Eagle’s award-winning product that offers industry-leading TV shows, movies, flight status and destination information. It offers the latest content to the passengers and is customizable. Airconnect Go is a complete package solution delivering low-cost and wireless streaming. Along with Airtime portal it allows passengers to game online and stream on-demand movies directly on their own devices. It is a compact device that can install in the overhead locker and sustain for 15 hours.

Global Eagle also offers three additional applications – airshop, airread, and airmeal. They allow shopping for duty-free items, ordering meals and accessing newspapers and magazines.

6. Hughes Network Systems (EchoStar Company):

Hughes Network Systems, an EchoStar company, provides broadband equipment services and end-to-end network operation for businesses worldwide. Hughes in-flight is an integrated multi-transport solution enabling airlines to enhance guest experience.

As a global distributor of OneWeb aero service, Hughes offers LEO-only and hybrid LEO+GEO satellite services for airborne connectivity. Their LEO Antenna solution is an electronically steerable antenna (ESA) optimized for fast LEO satellite service. It has data rates up to 195 Mbps to and 32 Mbps from the aircraft.

Hughes Fusion In-Flight combines LEO service with Hughes Fusion technology to deliver Wi-Fi experience even at busy airport hubs. It also offers Hughes JUPITER System baseband, enabling in-flight connectivity using capacity from any JUPITER-enabled Ka- or Ku-band satellite worldwide. Delta Airlines selected the Hughes inflight WiFi solution in more than 400 Boeing 717 and regional jets serving North America.

Challenges

For all the benefits that inflight WiFi brings, there are some challenges in implementing it as well.

• Connectivity Issues:

  At high altitudes and speeds, airplane WiFi faces connectivity issues. The handover between ground stations and satellites can cause connection drops impacting the travel experience.

• Bandwidth Limitations:

  The airborne Wi-Fi bandwidth is limited compared to ground networks. The Wi-Fi speed is extremely slow when multiple users access the service simultaneously due to this limitation.

• Regulatory Restrictions:

  Every country has regulations for frequency allocation and power limits of airplane Wi-Fi. These regulations vary while flying across different regions, making it challenging for airlines to provide a consistent service.

• Security Concerns:

  Lack of password protection on the Wi-Fi connection can lead to data breaches which would make passengers reluctant to use this service. Providing secure connection is important to prevent cyber threats on the passenger’s devices and aircraft’s systems.

• Meeting Passenger Expectations:

  Passengers expect seamless connectivity like what they experience on the ground. Meeting these expectations requires airlines to invest in advanced and expensive Wi-Fi technologies.

Conclusion

Inflight WiFi offers numerous benefits, such as diverse content options, real-time information access, and revenue generation through subscription plans. It also provides airlines with a competitive advantage and a promising guest experience. Furthermore, it facilitates the collection of feedback and analytics, aiding airlines in enhancing their services.