If you fly internationally often, and are one of the many who could really use Wi-Fi over the Pacific, you’ll be glad to learn that someone, finally, says they’ve cracked that problem.
In this post from Honeywell Aerospace, the company says it’s reached a new “milestone” to overcoming the international Wi-Fi problem. Working with Inmarsat, they report that they’ve “successfully completed the first phase of hardware and satellite network flight tests for GX Aviation broadband services. Honeywell’s JetWave-branded hardware enables airplanes to connect to Inmarsat’s Global Xpress satellite constellation for GX Aviation global Ka-band in-flight Wi-Fi services.”
The companies conducted testing this month, which included streaming YouTube videos and live radio, downloading files and conducting conference calls while in flight over land and water in the UK. They report that the test “demonstrated a successful connection between the JetWave hardware and Inmarsat’s first Global Xpress satellite, I-5 F1, which powers GX Aviation services for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.”
While the tests are vital to bringing Wi-Fi to international flights, there is no set timeline for when passengers will happily be streaming in the skies. However, they were optimistic it will be soon.
Honeywell’s JetWave hardware is set to be installed on “all new Boeing aircraft, the Airbus A350 and Bombardier’s Global family of business jets,” according to the statement.
