Gogo’s hybrid GTO technology bringing 60Mbps download capability to airlines in 2014
Posted in: Today's Chili
In a way, in-flight WiFi still seems like the future. It’s the internet, in the air, while traveling at 30,000+ feet. Clearly, just having access isn’t good enough, as a smattering of opponents have stepped into a segment long dominated by Gogo with snazzier, satellite-based alternatives. Over the past few years, ViaSat has stepped up in an effort to offer flyers something that Gogo’s existing services won’t: streaming video. While Gogo’s air-to-ground network is great for latency, it struggles with bandwidth, as anyone on a crowded flight from JFK to SFO will likely attest. Today, Gogo has taken the wraps off of GTO (Ground to Orbit), described as a hybrid technology that will be “capable of delivering more than 60Mbps to the aircraft.” For those keeping score, that’s a 20-fold increase from where Gogo started just a few years ago.
We spoke to a company representative leading up to the reveal, who confirmed that GTO is a proprietary offering, and will lean on satellites for the downlink while using existing ground-based transceivers for the uplink. For users, that means that latency will remain low, uploads will remain sluggish, and downloads will improve dramatically. Gogo points out that precious little will need to change for airlines to take advantage; there’s a new antenna, which is actually half as large as the existing one, but most everything else will remain the same. Virgin America will be the launch partner of the new service, which is expected to be available in the second half of 2014; we asked if any other airlines were onboard beyond that, but were left to make assumptions for ourselves.
Filed under: Transportation, Internet
Source: Gogo
YouTube is now flying with Virgin America. YouTube has struck a deal with the U.S.-based airline on Thursday this week. The deal involves streaming YouTube content from partners to seat-back screens on Virgin America airplanes in the U.S. and Mexico. Beginning December 15th, passengers will be able to view shows including “H+ The Digital Series,” “Blue,” “Written by a Kid,” “Crash Course” and “The Key of Awesome.” “Bringing YouTube aboard Virgin America is part of a larger effort to bring you more of the videos you love, at heights you’ve never seen them before,” said Kate Berland, YouTube Marketing Manager, in a press release. “Sample these great series on your flight, and then visit YouTube to enjoy the full seasons.” New series and shows are expected to be available every two months.
