The IFC Deal
Delta Air Lines has selected Hughes Network Systems to upgrade the Wi-Fi on around 400 Boeing 717 and smaller regional jets serving North America, which currently use Intelsat’s inflight connectivity (IFC) services. This IFC deal marks Hughes’ first direct agreement with an airline, despite its decade-long presence in the aviation connectivity market. The move places Hughes alongside Viasat, which has been installed on over 600 of Delta’s mainline aircraft to date.
Hughes’ Upcoming Antennas
Reza Rasoulian, vice president of broadband satellite services at Hughes, revealed that work on installing antennas compatible with the company’s Ka-band network, including the forthcoming Jupiter-3 satellite set to launch by the end of the year, will commence in mid-2024. These antennas, utilizing ThinKom’s technology, will also be compatible with future non-geostationary (NGSO) constellations operating in Ka-band, such as Telesat Lightspeed and SES O3b mPower.
Game-Changing Capacity
Rasoulian hinted at Hughes’ robust capacity, suggesting that every passenger on an aircraft with 70 to 117 people could simultaneously stream Netflix. This level of inflight streaming was unachievable with Intelsat’s air-to-ground service, which relied on connecting to cell towers rather than satellites.
Conclusion
With this Hughes Wi-Fi upgrade initiative, Delta Air Lines is set to provide a whole new level of inflight entertainment. By 2024, they aim to revolutionize the in-flight experience for passengers with faster and free Wi-Fi across their entire fleet. While they explored Starlink constellation tests with SpaceX, they have yet to formalize an agreement. As Starlink gains momentum in the aviation industry, the battle between traditional In-Flight Connectivity (IFC) providers and emerging satellite-based solutions like Starlink intensifies. While many airlines are exploring these options, the specific implementation and partnerships are still in their early stages, making it an exciting space to watch.
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