Major U.S. airlines are deploying low-Earth-orbit satellite Wi-Fi systems that industry analysts say match ground-level internet performance, ending the era in which a flight meant reliable disconnection from email, social media, and work.
Airlines roll out Starlink and satellite Wi-Fi, erasing in-flight disconnection
Major U.S. airlines are deploying low-Earth-orbit satellite Wi-Fi systems that industry analysts say match ground-level internet performance, ending the era in which a flight meant reliable disconnection from email, social media, and work.
United Airlines announced in June that nearly 1,000 of its planes would receive high-speed Wi-Fi through Starlink, the low-Earth-orbit satellite network owned by SpaceX, by the end of this year. Delta, JetBlue, and Alaska Airlines are partnering with either Starlink or Amazon Leo, its closest competitor, to offer comparable service within the next year or two.
Earlier in-flight Wi-Fi systems relied first on ground-based cell towers — a technology marketed under the Gogo brand — and later on satellites positioned roughly 22,000 miles above Earth. Those connections were adequate for email but too slow for video or social media. Starlink and Amazon Leo satellites orbit much closer to Earth and are approximately ten times less laggy than the older geostationary systems, according to airline-industry analyst Seth Miller.
The improved speeds allow passengers to use social media, stream video, and play online poker. Many airlines still forbid or discourage video calls, though passengers have begun taking Zoom and Microsoft Teams meetings onboard, prompting complaints from fellow travelers in online forums.
Grant Milstead, vice president of digital technology at United Airlines, described the vision as turning the aircraft cabin into a 'living room in the sky' where passengers can simultaneously use entertainment, productivity tools, and messaging. He cited a customer who reportedly wrote code for a new business website during a flight using the upgraded service.
- The source does not state the pricing passengers will pay, if anything, for Starlink-powered Wi-Fi on the airlines named beyond describing it as free on United.
- The source does not state the current rollout status of Amazon Leo service on any specific airline.
- The source does not cite the research on tech-detox well-being as a specific study or dataset, only characterizing it as 'mixed.'
- The source does not state how many of Delta's, JetBlue's, or Alaska's planes are covered by their respective upgrade agreements or on what timeline beyond 'the next year or two.'
- The source does not provide Amazon Leo's response or position on its competitive standing relative to Starlink.
- The source does not state whether Gogo still operates any in-flight Wi-Fi services on major U.S. carriers.
Read the original at The Atlantic