California-based Airborne Wireless Network has entered into an agreement with Electric Lightwave that should bring it closer to its goal of creating a high-speed broadband airborne wireless network by linking commercial aircraft in flight.
The system should see each aircraft participating in the network – named the Infinitus Super Highway – act as an airborne repeater or router, sending and receiving broadband signals from one aircraft to the next and thus creating a ‘digital superhighway in the sky’ with excellent coverage, particularly for to commercial and private aircraft in flight, ships at sea, and people in remote areas. Airborne Wireless Network does not intend to provide retail customer coverage to end users, but instead to act as a wholesale carrier with target customers, such as internet service providers and telephone companies.
The agreement creates a mutually beneficial relationship, with the ground segment of the contemplated Infinitus Super Highway supported by Electric Lightwave’s 12,500-mile fiber optics cable and data center network, which is located throughout the Western USA, including an undersea cable link to the Hawaiian Islands.
Jason T. de Mos, VP of business development and aviation compliance at Airborne Wireless Network said, “This agreement will allow our contemplated Infinitus Super Highway, once implemented, to reach end users. Without a ground link, users would have no way to access our network. This agreement with Electric Lightwave provides that initial link to the ground, paving the way for ground segment partnerships for the remainder of the USA.”
As part of the agreement, Electric Lightwave has also agreed to provide support and advice during the testing phases, through to and including final system rollout.
