ViaSat Gets FCC Go-Ahead for High-Speed In-Flight Internet

By Paul Riegler on 30 July 2013
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Online in the air

Online in the air

ViaSat, a fixed and mobile satellite network services company, announced that it has received a license from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to operate its high-speed in-flight Internet service. The FCC’s Blanket License Radio Station Authorization for Ka-band covers all 50 states and is valid for a period of 15 years plus renewals.

The service, Fly-Fi powered by Exede Internet, will use the Ka-band, which allows higher bandwidth communication (although it is more susceptible to a loss of signal strength in rainy conditions), and ViaSat-1, a high-capacity communications satellite.
In June, JetBlue announced it will offer ViaSat’s in-flight service on its aircraft. Installation is set to begin later this year and the airline plans to have the entire fleet outfitted with the system by the end of 2015.

The ViaSat system will deliver a guaranteed 12 Mbps to each user and ViaSat told Frequent Business Traveler that there is more than sufficient bandwidth to support every single passenger on any given aircraft at that speed.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)

Related posts:

  1. JetBlue to Offer High-Speed In-Flight Internet
  2. American Airlines Selects High-Speed ViaSat Wi-Fi for New Fleet of Boeing 737 Max Jets
  3. Aeromexico to Deploy Viasat High-Speed Wi-Fi on New Boeing 737 Max Aircraft
  4. American Moves Ahead with High-Speed Satellite Wi-Fi Deployment, Will Start Charging for ViaSat Service in March

Accura News