Table of Contents
WHAT IS THE TECHNOLOGY BY WHICH INTERNET WILL BE PROVIDED ON FLIGHTS?
• In-flight connectivity systems primarily use two kinds of technologies.
• In the first, an on board antenna picks up signals from the nearest tower on the ground
• Otherwise, satellites can be used to connect to ground stations, similar to the way satellite TV signals are transmitted.
• ATG system – Air to Ground Transmission (3 mbps max)
• KU – Band (Satellite) – Faster than ATG
• KA Band (Satellite)
WHAT JUST HAPPENED?
•India will finally let passengers use their phones on a flight.
• On May 01, the country’s Telecom Commission cleared a proposal for passengers to make mobile internet calls and use data mid-air. It should start in 4 months – -Telecom secretary Aruna Sundararajan (civil aviation secretary Rajiv Nayan Choubey).
NOTES
•Ministry of Civil Aviation (India) – Suresh Prabhu.
•Ministry of Communications and Information Technology – Ravi Shankar Prasad
(5 – 5 – 2018)
•An issue with deploying satellites for on-board connectivity of Internet and mobile communications, however, is that the Telecom Commission is not amenable to allowing the use of foreign satellites — as demanded by some airlines in their consultations with the telecom regulator TRAI — unless they are leased by the Department of Space, making them a part of the
Indian Satellite System, or INSAT.
WHAT WILL IN-FLIGHT INTERNET COST AIRLINES?
• The high cost of installing equipment may discourage low-cost carriers, and even for full-service carriers, the service may come at a premium. Apart from the equipment cost, airlines
will have to bear additional fuel costs, given the extra weight and drag aircraft will face due to the antenna.
• It is expected that foreign airlines that service Indian airports or use Indian airspace will offer in-flight connectivity before domestic carriers.
HOW MUCH CAN CUSTOMERS EXPECT TO PAY?
• A final picture will emerge once commercial arrangements between all stakeholders are in place.
• Globally, Internet access in the air is not exactly cheap.
Singapore Airlines offers free data up to 100 MB in First and Business class on its India-bound flights (which can currently be used only outside Indian airspace).
• For Economy, data packs are available starting US $ 5 (about Rs 335).
NOTES
•India is the only country, besides North Korea, to bar in-flight data so far.
•The government had till now cited national security as a reason for not enabling this facility, a
reason strongly countered by experts.
CAN CALLS BE MADE FROM AIRCRAFT?
•Technology and laws allow them, but many airlines do not want noisy cabins.
•Lufthansa has said that Internet telephony applications such as Skype, too, are “not allowed
out of consideration for other passengers”.
WhatsApp