Gogo, an inflight communications service provider, has received regulatory approval from the FCC to operate its 2Ku in-flight connectivity technology. The approval is a blanket approval from the FCC for Gogo to operate its 2Ku system on 1,000 aircraft.
Gogo claims that the 2Ku technology will outperform rival global connectivity solutions, and will deliver peak speeds to the aircraft of more than 70Mbps. According to the company, the 2Ku antenna’s spectral efficiency means it will produce “more bandwidth at less cost”, and the signal will not degrade in tropical regions where other satellite solutions can degrade due to restrictions associated with operating at high skew angles. The antenna itself is only 4.5in-tall, allowing a low profile for minimal incremental drag on the aircraft.
“Clearing the necessary regulatory hurdles to provide this service to an aircraft flying anywhere around the globe is no small feat. Gogo has proven it is a leader at navigating these environments for all aircraft types no matter where they fly,” said Michael Small, Gogo’s president and CEO. “We are happy that the launch of 2Ku is proceeding as planned and are continuing to work with the FAA on approval for installation.”
Gogo expects the new service to be available for the commercial aviation market in the second half of 2015.
