Being able to access the internet at 30,000 feet used to seem like something out of a science fiction novel. But over the past decade, in-flight Wi-Fi has gone from a novelty to an expected standard amenity on major airlines around the world.
The Early Days of In-Flight Wi-Fi
The first commercial aircraft to offer Wi-Fi was a Virgin America flight in 2014. However, the technology available at that time was slow, spotty, and expensive. It relied on air-to-ground networks that required the plane to be within range of a cellular tower on the ground. This severely limited connectivity especially for transoceanic flights. Early systems also had data caps as low as 5MB, making even basic web browsing impossible. For these reasons, many saw the early days of in-flight Wi-Fi as more of a novelty than a useful service.
Coherent Market Insights takes a look at the history of Wi-Fi onboard planes, where the technology stands today, and what the future may hold for connectivity in the skies in In-Flight Wi-Fi Market.
Improving Satellite Technologies
As satellite technology continued to advance, providers like Gogo and Viasat began rolling out improved aircraft connectivity solutions that relied on Ka-band and Ku-band satellites rather than ground networks. This allowed for broadband-level speeds even over the ocean. Planes could now remain connected virtually the entire flight. Data allowances also ballooned to gigabytes which enabled streaming video and video calls. Major carriers like Delta, United and American all began outfitting fleets with satellite-based Wi-Fi in the late 2010s making connectivity common on domestic flights.
International and Low-Cost Carriers Catch Up
While early in-flight Wi-Fi focused on US legacy carriers, other parts of the industry have since caught up. International airlines like Emirates, Singapore Airlines, and Cathay Pacific now boast fleet-wide satellite connectivity. Even budget carriers like Southwest, JetBlue and Ryanair have begun adding Wi-Fi planes. This brings nearly universal connectivity to domestic airline cabins and growing coverage internationally even on affordable airfares. Today millions of passengers experience in-flight Wi-Fi on every continent.
Current State of In-Flight Connectivity
By 2021, most major airline fleets offer Wi-Fi coverage. Speeds have increased to 10-15Mbps downloads on domestic aircraft and 5-10Mbps internationally thanks to improved satellites and aeronautical routers. Data allowances have risen to allow for multiple device usage with several gigabytes free on many flights. Pricing has also come down to $5-10 per flight making connectivity affordable for casual browsing or basic work tasks. Streaming video is also possible for an incremental fee on most flights. The state of in-flight Wi-Fi has come a long way with nearly universal coverage and performance suitable for most tasks.
Challenges Remain for Advanced Users
While in-flight Wi-Fi meets basic needs, challenges remain for power users and bandwidth-hungry applications. Satellite bandwidth remains limited, and high demand during peak hours can cause slowdowns. Latency also impacts real-time applications as signals must travel to orbiting satellites and back. Video conferencing and online gaming therefore lag behind versus ground connectivity. Data allowances also fall short for high usage like downloading large files or streaming high definition video. Connectivity for advanced users requires premium unlimited plans that remain costly. Overall performance may satisfy casual browsing but frustrates power professionals.
Future Technology: 3G, 4G, 5G and Beyond
Looking ahead, the future promises even faster and more ubiquitous in-flight connectivity. Newer Low Earth Orbit satellites bring latency down and enable true broadband speeds rivaling home internet. Technologies like 3G, 4G and 5G for Aeronautics also emerge to bring ground-like connectivity to specific aircraft routes. Trials show viability of Wi-Fi calling and in-cabin 5G using mm Wave spectrum isolated from the aviation band. Integration of these solutions could provide seamless global connectivity even on smaller commuter aircraft in the coming decade. Fiber-optic and laser communications may also augment satellite solutions flying at stratospheric altitudes in the long run.
Market Outlook
The global in-flight connectivity equipment and service market continues to grow rapidly as more planes come online with Wi-Fi and bandwidth demands rise on existing fleets (for more details refer to the report published on CMI). North America currently dominates the market led by early adoption from major US carriers however Asia Pacific is emerging as the fastest growing region supported by expanding international routes from carriers like China Eastern and Air India. Europe and Middle East also show significant opportunities for service providers and equipment manufacturers. With nearly all new aircraft incorporating connectivity as standard along with retrofitting of older fleets, the long-term outlook remains incredibly strong. Next generation technologies ensure higher performance and more affordable access driving further growth worldwide.
Conclusion
In-flight Wi-Fi has come a long way from being a novelty to an expected standard feature. While challenges persist for advanced use cases, the majority of flyers can now get basic internet access at 30,000 feet. The future promises even faster speeds and less limitations with newer satellite and air-to-ground technologies. As connectivity continues embedding into the air travel experience, it will be interesting to see how it transforms the industry and passenger experience in the coming decade. The sky is truly no longer the limit for in-air internet access.
