Up to 70mbps…
The world of in flight wifi is something like an arms race. Uber competitive, incredibly expensive and constantly evolving as new satellites launch. Timing is also everything. Qatar Airways have announced plans to fit Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 jets with arguably the fastest broadband in the sky from GX Aviation, transforming the airplane into a real “mobile office” and great place to catch up on Netflix, even when flying over the most remote reaches of the earth.
“Super Wifi”
Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker proclaimed another “first”, stating Qatar Airways is the first Gulf airline to invest in wifi of this quality. The wifi he speaks of is Inmarsat’s GX Aviation, which the airline is dubbing “Super Wifi”. The service is the first global satellite network band owned by a single wifi operator. In other words: no drop outs and no licensing deals mean the service will always be on top form. The service also claims to be able to redirect and increase bandwidth to ensure signals remain fast, even in busy hubs. Passengers should expect to be able to stream across devices and download relevant work materials with ease.
Roll Out
Swift roll out is a key priority for Qatar Airways as the service makes its way to approximately 75 Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 jets. According to Business Traveller, customers will receive one hour of free wifi and full flight passes will also be available. The Boeing 777 has been the initial launch aircraft for Qatar Airways QSuites and the Airbus A350’s are next. Adding arguably the world’s fastest in flight wifi makes these aircraft a slam dunk for business travelers.
Wifi Battle
The battle for in flight wifi supremacy intensifies. Between Gogo’s 2Ku, Inmarsat’s European Aviation Network and the GX Aviation global satellite network, there’s no question speeds are on the way up as wifi providers cut out middle men and invest in state of the art K band satellites, and powerful routers. New systems promise up to 70mb of connectivity speed per passenger, which rivals the best home connections. Needless to say, amusing yourself in flight has never been easier.
