Wi-Fi comes to the sky tommorrow as German carrier Lufthansa launches its in-flight broadband service.
Wi-Fi, or high-speed wireless Internet access, is expected to spread quickly among international carriers outside the USA, but domestic travelers will have a long wait.
Lufthansa plans to unveil Wi-Fi on May 17 on non-stop flights between Munich and Los Angeles. It becomes the first commercial user of a Boeing broadband system that’s been four years in the making.
The satellite-based system will be installed on the airline’s entire 74-plane wide-body fleet over the next year. Passengers with Wi-Fi-enabled laptops will be able to buy access with credit cards. Cost to passengers:$30 for the full flight, or$10 for 30 minutes.
Last year, Hughes Network Systems launched today a Wi-fi service that originates from satellites circling as high as 24,400 miles above the earth.
The geostationary satellites rotate in sync with the earth and so appear to be stationary in the sky.
The satellite service called Direcway will be sold as a backhaul solution to wireless service providers and to companies looking to offer wireless Internet service to customers in areas that traditional backhaul service providers cannot reach. The peak downlink is 600Kbps to 1Mbps while the uplink is 30Kbps to 80Kbps.
The Hughes service uses geostationary satellites, which transmit, to a satellite dish connected to a Hughes terminal. The terminals in turn are connected to access points. To the end-customer with a wireless card in a laptop, the service will perform like any other Wi-Fi service.
The satellites also communicate with Hughes network operation centers, which will handle management, subscriptions, and billing.
Service is available now with a number of pilot programs already under way at RV parks in Southern Calif.
Boeing plans to install the system on 300 planes by 2006. Singapore Airlines hopes to have its first plane equipped this year, to be followed by its entire long-range fleet. Says Singapore spokesman James Boyd: “Business travelers need access to e-mail and the Web, whether they are on the ground or at 39,000 feet.”
Other buyers include Japan, SAS, ANA and China airlines.
No U.S. airline has ordered Boeing’s system. The three largest — American, United and Delta — formed a coalition to help develop it, and then bailed out amid cost cutting following the Sept. 11 attacks. All say they’re interested, though finances remain a problem. Collectively, the big airlines reported $1.5 billion in losses for the January-March quarter and haven’t had a profitable year since 2000.
Profitable discounter Jet Blue, which pioneered live seatback television, has balked at Wi-Fi, too. Spokesman Todd Burke said Jet Blue reviewed Wi-Fi, but has opted for 100-channel XM Satellite Radio as the next electronic upgrade in the cabin.
Boeing was attempting to come with a service called Connexion. This was actually supposed to be deployed widely by now, but the 911 disaster resulted in a change of plans.
On a flight to UK a while back, they wouldn’t let me use a CD player, but my laptop was OK, as long as I had to remove my CD from drive. I think it was just a requirement that you be as bored and uncomfortable as possible. As enthusiastic. "I would absolutely pay $30 to stay connected.. I’ve been looking being for more creative ways to spend money on flights. And Wi-Fi may be that way.
Being fond of able to communicate in airports lounge using Wi-Fi (generally through Globetek, Wayport or T-Mobile). But, being able to work on a plane would mean I wouldn’t have to catch up with tons of e-mail back from corporate, after I land.
Lets look forward, to experience the new sky!
Regards,
YKKB.
but If I am traveling in International flight I would have payed them much already so, is’t it a bit bad impression from BIG AIRCOMPNAY to charge the internet like Net Cafe… It should not be like this.. well offcourse I will be the first one to pay $30 to conect 
KK bhai, I am already acused by my friends and family that I am net addicted so I think for ppl like me its not a good thing, cuz at least in sky we should take some rest from net. But now I think that is out of question too. 