sbm12

Ummm...no. The 767s do not have AVOD and the 753s do not have DirecTV yet. They are due to get it later this year and the 76s will start to get AVOD late this year as they go in for the new cabin configuration and BF upgrade as well.
That's more or less what the airlines want to happen because those are the only places they can find margins.
One of the supposed benefits of the Ka-band solution is that it is cheaper to operate than then EvDO or Ku-band solutions (i.e. gogo and Row44). No idea if that will trickle down to the customer or not.
You're the first person I've heard who claims to be an insider and who also claims that the adoption rates are happening at a revenue point that is actually profitable or useful to either the airlines or the providers.

goalie

While I do like the addition of WiFI, I wonder how much this "change we will like" is going to cost us, Uncle Jeff.....

joshwex90

How would Ka-Band compare to GoGo or Row44 in the following specific points?

• Row44 allows for "gate-to-gate" WiFi, as opposed to GoGo which is only once 10,000 feet in the air.
• Although airlines don't utilize it, another benefit of Row44 is that it could be utilized internationally, even over water, as opposed to GoGo which is specific to the US. (Row44 is similar to the now extinct Connexion by Boeing.)

sjm0028

I paid for Gogo internet in coach on Monday's 2:35 PS flight. I am
in the process of changing ISPs so I had a large file to down load.
Speed was about slow cell phone speed of 28-35Kbps which meant
even browsing was very slow. Still, I had nothing better to do.

tv_man

Row44, Ka-band from ViaSat or any other satellite based connectivity system for aircraft:
1) could work 'gate-to-gate'; however, passenger electronic devices are not allowed to be used below 10k feet.
2) may work over water if the aircraft system can communicate with a satellite that's providing coverage in the given area

joshwex90

1. While at the gate, especially when seated in F which could mean a long time on the ground, it'd be nice to be able to surf.
2. I understand that. GoGo for example, cannot be used over water. What wil be with Ka-band?

mintirish

Good news. It amazes me that all planes aren't fitted for wifi. The technology has been out for years and years.

I can understand how personal video takes ripping out all the seats, but adding wifi should be a small change - throw a unit in the plane and you are good to go.

WineCountryUA

technology is not the issue, it is economics. Most of the reports have shown slow lcustomer / traveller adoption due to costs. While a group like FTer may think it is a no brainer it has take awhile to get the customer based conditioned to paying for this service.

The in-plane costs are relatively low (but you do need a server in addition to the access points) the real costs are the ISP. The terrestrial towers or satellite systems are expensive.