Aircell technology added new antenna's to existing towers except these antennas are pointing up which allow them to operate at a higher power compared to conventional RF patterns for ground-based consumer cell phones. The gear on board also operates at a higher power compared to normal consumer grade cell equipment that helps to improve range and signal quality.
It is quite normal for cell tower operators (which isn't always the actual cell company) to operate multiple technologies by simply adding the required components to network equipment. Sort of like having an AM/FM radio, albeit a crude analogy.
I am in the process of upgrading a cellular provider from a very old technology to GSM and we are including CDMA to maximize potential for roaming capture. It's a relatively simple add-on to the primary gear.
Being in the industry I usually check the backbone provider. I suspect that it could vary based on geography but so far have only found AT&T providing the connection to the internet.
Quote:
Originally Posted by USirritated
Is it possible that Aircell is leasing ATT equipment or is otherwise running on an ATT backbone to provide their services?
Lets just say it is highly unlikely Aircell built their own towers, but there is nothing preventing them from have agreements with multiple providers most likely based on geography. Therefore I am hesitant to say it is only AT&T nationwide.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by USirritated
More like three communications jurisdictions, since the Canadian provinces often do not cooperate on anything.
It appears to be a federal responsibility under the CRTC.
I think Aircell & Delta need to try a little harder, and suggest TATL/Caribbean pricing based on anticipated duration of service (< 3 hours in most cases) rather than on scheduled flight duration.
The captain could make an announcement: We're now within 100 miles of St. John's, ladies and gentlemen. Light 'em up. You've got 3:45 flying time left to Atlanta.
Being in the industry I usually check the backbone provider. I suspect that it could vary based on geography but so far have only found AT&T providing the connection to the internet.
Lets just say it is highly unlikely Aircell built their own towers, but there is nothing preventing them from have agreements with multiple providers most likely based on geography. Therefore I am hesitant to say it is only AT&T nationwide.
I concur. And I would note, just because AT&T is providing internet services, doesn't mean they are operating all (or any) of the cell towers. It's way to costly this late in the game to run a nation wide internet network. Though it is a bit disappointing that Aircell isn't multihoming via multiple backbones. That means if AT&T has a problem the traffic has nowhere to go.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by motytrah
I concur. And I would note, just because AT&T is providing internet services, doesn't mean they are operating all (or any) of the cell towers. It's way to costly this late in the game to run a nation wide internet network. Though it is a bit disappointing that Aircell isn't multihoming via multiple backbones. That means if AT&T has a problem the traffic has nowhere to go.
Aircell's system, as I previously posted, is CDMA EVDO based. So either Verizon or Sprint. AT&T likely provides additional coverage.
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I just found this on Aircell's website.
Quote:
AIR CANADA BEGINS CUSTOMER TRIALS FOR INFLIGHT INTERNET
Air Canada said today it has begun trials to offer its customers Gogo® Inflight Internet service on board select flights on the carrier’s Toronto-Los Angeles and Montreal-Los Angeles routes...
Initially, the Gogo system will be powered by Aircell’s existing network and only available in the continental U.S. in order to make Air Canada’s rollout fast, economical and simple. Air Canada intends to extend the system on other routes in North American with the deployment of the Canadian Air-To-Ground (ATG) network. Aircell plans to collaborate with the Canadian ATG licensee in supporting the establishment of a Canadian ATG network and in facilitating the fleet-wide deployment of Air Canada’s onboard connectivity service
Once they have 4G live, we'll be able to watch streaming video, talk using VoIP, surf the web, and play multi-player games *simultaneously* instead of one at a time, as we do now
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It isn't that easy. You can not think of it as a regular aircard with an antenna sticking out the bottom of the plane, it is a combination of ground equipment added to a relatively small number of existing towers and equipment on the plane. Both are configured for air-to-ground links as opposed to ground-to-ground links. ATG is licensed differently by the FCC. There are some technical reasons why they are using EVDO, but that does not bind them to a terrestrial CDMA consumer provider.
The cellular companies are quite incestuous. VzW customer's are often not connected to a VzW tower even though their phone displays VzW - the great irony of "my network is better than your network" marketing campaigns.
Most major wireless companies are playing with LTE already as their 4G network of the future.
Both YUL and YYZ are well within 100 miles of US border. I'm betting they piggyback on the US network, without recourse to a Canadian provider. Notice how this is only for service to US destinations!
LH tried something a few years ago but gave up: too few takers. It was much more expensive than gogo.
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The service is not offered because it is terrestrial-based.
The service is not satellite probably because satellite services were tried in the past and the economics could not be made to work, due to increased costs to provide service.
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As with all things communications technology related, Satellite Internet connectivity will eventually be getting less expensive, probably more sooner rather than later, and then it will come back into use on planes as the next generation of airborne WIFI.
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A good question to ask is how much would people be willing to pay for internet on an international flight? When it's not common for many hotels in europe to charge 20 euro, I can't even imagine how much the airlines would charge for this.
