Starlink skies

Aero Terminal. © Starlink.

SpaceX announced Starlink Aviation, an in-flight satellite Internet service that offers 350Mbps broadband with unlimited data. The company explains that with latency as low as 20 ms, “passengers can engage in activities previously not functional in flight, including video calls, online gaming, virtual private networks and other high data rate activities.” For airlines, the initial investment amounts to 150,000 USD per aircraft, not including the installation, which can be performed by an airline’s maintenance team or by certified installers. Thereafter, the monthly service fee runs between 12,500 and 25,000 USD.

Several companies have already signed on to the in-flight satellite system, including Hawaiian Airlines, which will offer passengers the Starlink service at no extra charge, starting next year. The regional US airline JSX Air, whose fleet includes the Embraer ERJ 135 and 145, also promises to install this service aboard its flights very shortly. “Internet in airplanes will feel [sic] same as if you were accessing Internet at home,” tweeted SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on the social media platform he just purchased.

⇨ Ars Technica, Jon Brodkin, “Starlink unveils airplane service—Musk says it’s like using Internet at home.”

2022-10-19