Mobile phones have been a common feature of many people’s lives since the mid-1990s, but for much of the time since, they’ve been banished from the world of air travel. It’s almost become second nature to just switch devices off when entering an aircraft – that was until handset manufacturers began loading their products with an intriguing new feature called ‘flight mode’.
By removing the majority of signal-transmitting capabilities, this setting allows passengers to use their devices without any risk of interfering the aircraft’s internal systems. This was obviously a significant step forward but there’s still something major missing: connectivity.
Why is it so important?
Internet connectivity has become such a normal part of everyday life on land that people have come to expect it wherever they go, and this includes aircraft. Travellers are no longer happy to stare into the clouds or make do with their airline’s restricted entertainment offerings – they want to work, Tweet, stream and surf to pass the time. Why, then, are most people still yet to benefit from sky-high Wi-Fi?
The current situation
As the air travel market expands and price wars become heated, it’s natural for airlines to want to meet the needs of their customers. It is for this reason that many have invested in the early stages of on-board Wi-Fi.
It is thought that wireless internet access is now available on 40 per cent of all flights in the US, as well as some long-haul routes operated by European carriers such as Lufthansa, Norwegian and Turkish Airlines. Passengers flying with some of these companies can even connect without charge.
This is all well and good but with access so readily available on the ground, it’s clear that there’s a lot of work to be done before aircraft cabins catch up with the coffee shops, libraries and tourist attractions a little closer to sea level. What’s more, even the connections that do exist are sub-standard, acting as a source of frustration for many.
The challenges in brief
The two main issues affecting the current state of Wi-Fi in air travel are rooted in quality and accessibility. As mentioned, only a handful of flights do offer Wi-Fi at present and this is not nearly enough to cater for such a massive, global smartphone market.
Quality is severely lacking in the services which are available. On land, Wi-Fi is preferred by most smartphone users because it offers better speed and reliability than the average mobile data connection – whether 3G or LTE. In the air, where mobile internet isn’t at all accessible, these benefits rarely exist; connections are often slow and intermittent.
The general dissatisfaction is evidenced by the results of a recent FlightView study. After questioning more than 600 American business travellers, the aircraft-tracking service found that only 28 per cent are happy with the Wi-Fi services they have access to when flying.
Cost is another concern – with progress in this area of technology prone to stalling, most travellers are forced to pay significant fees in return for access. This can, in some cases, be as high as £15 for a single flight.
In order to get a better idea of why the obstacles are proving so difficult to manoeuvre, it helps to understand the basic technological concepts.
How does it work?
When carriers make the decision to invest in Wi-Fi, they have two main routes to consider; essentially, they must pick between the ground and the sky.
One option would be to use a network of 4G and 3G ground stations to which planes can connect as they pass overhead. Sharing many characteristics of standard land-based mobile data infrastructure, this approach is simple and relatively well-researched. Bandwidth, however, is severely limited, meaning users are restricted to just basic tasks – at present, streaming HD movies is certainly out of the question.
There’s also potential to consider in satellite connectivity. Back in January, the UK’s media regulator, Ofcom, authorised the use of earth stations on aircraft, as well as boats and trains. When mounted to the vehicle, these devices can provide Wi-Fi by connecting to geostationary satellites. Of course, the success of such an approach will lie, to some extent, on electromagnetic spectrum provision.
To this end, Ofcom has already said that it will dedicate a considerable amount of high-frequency spectrum to ensure the technology’s potential is reached. It is thought that the first licenses for its use will be awarded this year.
What’s next?
Both of the most obvious approaches have their downsides, but there’s also plenty of potential to be realised and development is ongoing. For example, GoGo, which provides access via a countrywide network of 3G points, has already started rolling out its new ATG-4 technology. By equipping aircraft with directional antennae and dual modems, the company says it can offer connection speeds of up to 9.8Mpbs; not quite HD-streaming speed but it’s a big step in the right direction.
In terms of the satellite approach, regulatory bodies around the world are working constantly to unload spectrum for numerous new technologies – in-flight Wi-Fi included. As progress is made with these efforts, accessibility will undoubtedly improve.
