SpaceX’s Starlink satellite broadband service may soon be available on select flights via Starlink Aviation.
SpaceX announced High-speed, low-latency service will be available as soon as passengers are on the flight.
SpaceX claims it can deliver speeds of “up to 350 Mbps” per plane, allowing all passengers “to access the internet with streaming capabilities at the same time.”
“With latency as low as 20 ms, passengers can engage in activities that were previously inactive during flight, including video calls, online gaming, virtual private networks, and speed activities. other high data” it says on its website.
Also: SpaceX’s Internet Starlink is now headed to cruise ships in a ‘game-changing’ deal
Aviation is Starlink’s fourth product, after residential, corporate, RV and marine. SpaceX has signed an agreement with cruise operator Royal Caribbean deploys Starlink across its entire fleet.
SpaceX has designed a low profile, aerodynamic identification terminal that it shows sitting on top of an aircraft. The terminal has a phased electronic navigation array antenna.
“The Internet on the plane will be like you are accessing the Internet at home!” Elon Musk, Director of SpaceX wrote on Twitter.
The Starlink Aviation Kit includes an Air Terminal, power supply, two wireless access points, and a harness. SpaceX says deliveries will begin in 2023.
GoGo is an example of wireless network (ATG) provided by some US service providers. In other parts of the world, it is mainly satellites that provide Wi-Fi on board. Viasat provides in-flight Wi-Fi for commercial airlines. Its geostationary satellites orbit at about 22,000 miles (34,000 km) above Earth. Currently, more than 3,000 of SpaceX’s Starlink low-Earth orbit satellites orbit the planet at an altitude of 340 miles (550 km). According to BloombergIntelsat, the largest in-flight service provider, has about 2,000 aircraft via satellite, with another 1,000 connected using its ATG system.
Hawaiian Airlines in April announced an agreement with SpaceX Starlink which will offer passengers free connectivity by 2023 on its Airbus A330 and A321neo fleet, and a new fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft on flights to North America, Asia and Oceania. JSX, a US regional carrier, recently tested Starlink on a flight with dozens of people over California.
SpaceX says Starlink Aviation will have global coverage, even in the polar regions. It turns out that geostationary satellites do not cover the polar regions.
The service appears to be targeted at corporate jets rather than commercial carriers. SpaceX notes that currently supported aircraft types for Starlink Aviation include: ERJ-135, ERJ-145, G650, G550, Falcon 2000, G450, Challenger 300, Challenger 350, Global Express, Global 5000, Global 6000 and Global 7500. The company will update the list of supported aircraft from time to time.
