Gogo Plans New High-Speed 5G Network for In-Flight Wi-Fi

In-flight Wi-Fi provider Gogo announced on Tuesday that it plans to build a new air-to-ground 5G network.

Gogo said it will offer the new air-to-ground 5G network for use on smaller mainline jets, regional jets, and business aviation aircraft. The network will be built by Airspan Networks, a radio access network solutions provider.

The company plans to have the network up and running in 2021.

The new 5G network will be “an important milestone in the inflight connectivity industry,” the company said.

The 5G technology, Gogo said, will have a lower cost of operation as well as lower latency. Gogo said it will offer an easy upgrade path to airlines that are existing air-to-ground customers.

Gogo entered the in-flight connectivity business with its first customer, American Airlines, in 2008.  The original Gogo service uses air-to-ground technology, while the company has since also added faster satellite connectivity.

The company’s customer list, in addition to American, includes Aer Lingus, Aeromexico, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Japan Airlines, United Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)