The technology will be introduced by Jet Blue flights next month, and will be rolled out to other airlines in the coming year. August 7, 2013 7:28 AM PDT (Credit: JetBlue) Several satellite companies are looking to improve the availability of Wi-Fi while you're in-flight, according to a new report. Starting next month, JetBlue Airways will connect to satellites that employ so-called spot-beam technology, Bloomberg is reporting. Spot-beam technology is considered the next evolution of in-flight Wi-Fi, and delivers a better, more-targeted signal to aircraft. That technology is expected to offer far more reliability for in-flight Wi-Fi. Related stories How Virgin America lets you text a hottie midflight Southwest ups in-flight viewing with on-demand TV and movies FCC chief urges FAA to allow more in-flight use of devices Gogo quietly hikes up its in-flight Wi-Fi prices JetBlue to launch fast free in-flight Wi-Fi in 2013 Wireless access has been available in airplanes for some time. However, travelers have found that the connections are spotty and often fall out for seemingly no reason. Major dead zones also cause some trouble. ViaSat, a company specializing in satellite-based Wi-Fi, is delivering the enhanced spot-beam technology to JetBlue. According to Bloomberg, another firm, Inmarsat, will offer up three spot-beam satellites worldwide in 2014, making it much easier for more airlines to ramp up their Wi-Fi connections. Still, there's a long a way to go: in-flight Wi-Fi is only available on 40 percent of North American flights.
The technology will be introduced by Jet Blue flights next month, and will be rolled out to other airlines in the coming year.
Several satellite companies are looking to improve the availability of Wi-Fi while you're in-flight, according to a new report.
Starting next month, JetBlue Airways will connect to satellites that employ so-called spot-beam technology, Bloomberg is reporting. Spot-beam technology is considered the next evolution of in-flight Wi-Fi, and delivers a better, more-targeted signal to aircraft. That technology is expected to offer far more reliability for in-flight Wi-Fi.
Related stories
- How Virgin America lets you text a hottie midflight
- Southwest ups in-flight viewing with on-demand TV and movies
- FCC chief urges FAA to allow more in-flight use of devices
- Gogo quietly hikes up its in-flight Wi-Fi prices
- JetBlue to launch fast free in-flight Wi-Fi in 2013
Wireless access has been available in airplanes for some time. However, travelers have found that the connections are spotty and often fall out for seemingly no reason. Major dead zones also cause some trouble.
ViaSat, a company specializing in satellite-based Wi-Fi, is delivering the enhanced spot-beam technology to JetBlue. According to Bloomberg, another firm, Inmarsat, will offer up three spot-beam satellites worldwide in 2014, making it much easier for more airlines to ramp up their Wi-Fi connections.
Still, there's a long a way to go: in-flight Wi-Fi is only available on 40 percent of North American flights.
