The US airline Delta Air Lines will equip a large part of its fleet with satellite technology from Viasat. From summer this year, over 300 aircraft will then offer high-speed WiFi, but at least initially as usual for a fee. Only news services should be free as before. Free WiFi is being planned.

Free WiFi already tested Delta tested free internet access this spring 2019 on North American domestic flights to gain experience. The airline worked with Gogo Inflight Internet, a US operator of communications services on board aircraft. Gogo offers WLAN for a fee on various airlines and airports.

This was a first step towards free WLAN on the plane. So far, this has only been offered by a few airlines, and then mostly only to selected passengers, for example in business class or frequent flyers. Delta does not reveal whether Gogo Inflight Internet was not up to the free WiFi offer, but with Viasat they are now bringing a competitor on board. However, Delta says it wants to continue to work with both Gogo and Viasat.

Viasat satellites with more bandwidth Viasat already has some communication satellites orbiting the earth, which offer different bandwidths depending on the generation. ViaSat-1 enables approximately 140 Gigabit per second and ViaSat-2 approximately 260 Gbit / s. Last year three new ViaSat-3 satellites were added, each offering a capacity of 1 terabit per second, i.e. almost four times the ViaSat-2.

Delta initially wants its faster WiFi via satellite in on 300 narrow-body aircraft of the Airbus A classes 321 ceo , Boeing 737 – 900 ER and selected Boeing 757-200 deploy. More planes are to follow. In addition to the satellite technology, the A 321 ceo aircraft also have power connections in each row of seats.

More screens, contrary to the industry trend According to Delta, passengers will be able to stream videos via Viasat just like at home. Call connections using Voice-over-IP remain prohibited under US law. Despite investing in new satellite modems for more bandwidth, Delta is also investing in additional screens on the back of the seats. Many other airlines have upgraded in-flight entertainment systems and screens in recent years to save fuel. They point out that more and more passengers bring their own devices anyway.

Delta is measured in passenger kilometers (2019) and number of Aircraft the second largest in the world, but the largest in terms of revenue, profit and market capitalization. Delta has not yet revealed when the promised free WiFi will be available on the plane. At least for the introduction of Viasat Internet in the summer of this year, Internet access will still be chargeable.

(fds)