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Aircell taps LTE for next-gen inflight services
Following the likes of CDMA operator Verizon Wireless, which will deploy LTE as its 4G technology, in-flight communications provider Aircell said the future of its mobile broadband network will be based on LTE (Long Term Evolution) as well.
Today, the company's Gogo service uses CDMA 1xEV-DO Rev. A technology, which enables the company to offer its air-to-ground data service at a data rate of more than 12 Mbps peak to Gogo-equipped aircraft. By the end of 2009, further advances to EV-DO will enable Aircell to deliver a raw data rate of up to 22.7 Mbps to aircraft. And by the start of 2011, Aircell expects to deploy its 4G LTE network, which will enable a throughput of up to 300 Mbps to aircraft.
The company says LTE will enable in-flight services such as hi-definition and interactive television as well as multi-player gaming. Aircell said it also chose LTE as a way to future-proof its air-to-ground technology. Airlines will also benefit from LTE because the technology will allow them to enhance their operations by offering applications such as high-resolution weather to the cockpit, the company said.
The company's customers so far include Virgin America and American Airlines.
For more:
- read Cellular-news
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Comments
Posted by Anonymous | September 18, 2008 - 11:08am
Let's see...Aircell's allocation is 1.5MHz so a single carrier of Rev A...cannot possibly deliver >3.1Mbps to an aircraft.
And LTE in 1.5MHz...no chance at all at 300Mbps. That's the drugs talking. The quotes of 300Mbps in 3GPP are for 20MHz bandwidths and 2x2 MIMO. Would like to see how MIMO works in an air-to-ground scenario (not saying it won't, but that's a bit different direction than everyone's going right now).
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