The British satellite telecommunications company Inmarsat plc has signed an agreement with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), the Indian state-owned telecommunications company to offer onboard Wi-Fi to the passengers flying to, from, and over India. As per the deal, Inmarsat will provide its solution ‘Global Xpress’ in Indian skies from 2020. With this, both foreign and domestic airlines who choose to offer onboard connectivity can begin offering the service to its passengers.
Indian carriers may soon provide Wi-Fi on planes
In India, SpiceJet’s Boeing 737 Max aircraft have the provision for Wi-Fi. Vistara’s Dreamliner Boeing 787 aircraft also have the necessary equipment to provide connectivity. Both airlines are likely to come up with the facility soon.
Few foreign carriers such as Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, and United currently follow the practice of switching off their onboard Wi-Fi provision over Indian airspace. The new arrangement between Inmarsat and BSNL will allow them to continue using Wi-Fi over Indian skies.
Some reports claim that the telecommunications provider Airtel’s subsidiary has received In-Flight Maritime Connectivity (IFMC) license from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). But there is no comment available from Airtel on the matter.
Inmarsat Global Xpress is world’s first global Ka-band satellite network
Besides Wi-Fi connectivity for browsing, Inmarsat’s solution Global Xpress provides capacity for streaming entertainment content. Global Xpress is the world’s first global Ka-band satellite network. Global Xpress’s network features four geostationary Ka-band satellites in orbit, with a fifth one, GX5, on track to launch by the end of 2019. On launching GX5, the provider can deliver increased capacity for operators flying in European and Middle Eastern airspace.
Inmarsat will also launch GX 6A and 6B in the following years. It has signed an agreement with Airbus to develop GX7, GX8, and GX9 satellites, which is expected to become the most advanced to provide aviation connectivity.
The basic internet packs of the global airlines allow the passengers to surf, exchange messages via mediums like WhatsApp and Twitter, via the personal devices for a limited time.
