Internet connectivity will become free and more widely accessible for aircraft passengers within the next few years, it is claimed.
Anil Sondhi, head of information technology at India’s state-owned airline Air India, says that carriers will soon stop charging for Wi-Fi access, in the same way they did with headphones.
The comments come after Air India announced that it is currently talking to a number of providers about the possibility of improving its own connectivity on international flights. According to businessinsider.in, Mr Sondhi cited aviation tech specialist OnAir as one of the project’s front-runners.
OnAir’s CEO, Ian Dawkins, confirmed that representatives from the companies had met for discussions before commenting on the current state of the in-flight Wi-Fi market.
He was quoted by indiatimes.com as saying: “Basic internet functions such as access of emails, social media messaging on Facebook or Twitter for the entire cabin and cockpit is possible with current technology. However seamless streaming of YouTube videos will take a few years to become a possibility.”
While changes are clearly afoot for the Indian airline, they will only have an effect on those on international flights for now. Domestic airspace in the country is still impacted by national aviation regulations which prohibit the use of any electronic device capable of transmitting radio signals.
