In my last post I said the connectivity race was hotting up. It is even hotter now as news reaches me that Alaska Air has plumped for Aircell and not Row44 for a fleetwide installation.
The dealbreaker it seems was cost and speed of installation. At least, that’s what the airline has just told me. Their passengers want wi-fi, and, like NOW.
I am wondering where this will leave Row44? Row44 says it is disappointed not to win Alaska. However it still has Southwest as a major launch customer.
Certainly ku band has a role to play internationally, but the US domestic market is now largely sewn up by Aircell. Success breeds success, and with over 700 aircraft and counting, the gogo service looks set to run and run.
Of course the weak link in the chain is international and across water – for Aircell, that is. The way things have developed, America is looking increasingly like some giant island – with its ban on voice calls and the limits to international service from the one service provider leading the market. Aircell has always said though it will address international – but when? Today it tells me the Gogo service will come to Mexico and Canada ‘in the near future’.
It will be interesting to see how US airlines with international route networks respond as the international connectivity market beckons.
The other prospect is Thales Avionics Inflight Systems – which is responding to connectivity questions next week. In other words, the company is not abandoning inflight connectivity after all. I will update my blogwatchers at the end of next week, when hopefully all will become clear. Or clearer at least. I have been invited to their ‘connectivity suite’ in the UK. Sounds interesting.
