Gogo says new technology will increase Wi-Fi speeds tenfold. (Image: Delta)
Do you still avoid in-flight Wi-Fi because it’s just too slow compared to the data speeds you get everywhere else? Leading Wi-Fi vendor Gogo is predicting huge improvements in the years ahead as it transitions to satellite-based technology from ground-based transmissions.
In a presentation to investors, and in a filing with the SEC, Gogo — which supplies Wi-Fi service to the bulk of the domestic aircraft that offer it — said that within five years, customers should be seeing data speeds of up to 100 megabits per second, up from the current peak of 10 Mbps. That’s good for tasks up to and including streaming video.
The company noted that satellite-based technology will give it worldwide coverage, increasing its potential customer base among airlines. Gogo dominates the domestic carrier market, holding contracts with Delta, Virgin America and American, among others. But Gogo’s not the fastest wi-fi around– most frequent travelers agree that JetBlue and United (both with their own proprietary satellite-based systems, not Gogo) win when it comes to speed.
Related: Gogo prices up 50%
The new 2ku satellite-based Wi-Fi is expected to cost airlines a lot less than the current technology, Gogo officials said, and is likely to increase passenger usage, bringing in more revenue.
The company said in its filing it expects the number of connected commercial aircraft worldwide to more than double over the next 18 years. It noted that its revenues have shown a compound annual growth rate of 62 percent over the last five years.
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Sorry but I am not about to pay $4 to $5 an hour for WiFi.
I am sick of the airlines trying to find a way into our pockets instead of trying to make a more pleasant flight.
I will tell you a story of why all of this pisses me off.
For years on flights from Washington to either L.A., SFO or Seattle we had audio music with other things like the pilot’s conversation with air traffic, and we would always have a movie.
They use to have TVs like every five rows and we lived with this.
Over the last five years airlines, including United started getting great entertainment systems. Now most of them are on international flights, but they make the flight sail my.
About a year ago United put in direct TVs on 737s, so I would always try to fly them, thus have a flight go faster with TV and movies. At the same time United has been testing this Wifi entertainment systems in which they had movies and packaged TV shows. Last year on my 737 to California, they had both systems which was great because in first class you didn’t have to pay for direct so you had a choice.
But good old United, guess they have fallen in love with these WiFi systems because it cuts out the need for TV screens in the back of each seat. I have flown coast to coast three times in the last three months and on Tuesday my wife and I were on a 737 between Seattle and Washington. Getting on the flight we were disappointed to notice no direct TV, but these new, uncomfortable seats that are thinner and can cram more people on the plane. The second problem, the WiFi worked but not the entertainment system, again this is the third time in six flight the last three months.
It really sucks, everyone in first class was not happy and the poor flight attendant had to explain to the 20 of us in first class how United is now taking out the direct TVs in order to get those lightweight seats in which they can cram more seats on a plane.
So we had to endure a boring flight, even the computer plugs weren’t working so we were stuck in just looking at each other.
So I couldn’t care if there is WiFi on a plane and paying the high cost of it.
Again another lose for flyers as United does everything to save a buck or find another way of charging us for something else.