Deutsche Telekom, Inmarsat Unveils European In-Flight Wi-Fi Project

A new joint venture between Deutsche Telekom and UK satellite company Inmarsat will allow passengers in flights across Europe to access the Internet in the future. The European Aviation Network promises to provide high speed Internet access during flights, using a combination of LTE-based connections from the ground and a network of satellites, similar to GoGo’s existing service operating in the United States.

The system will use Inmarsat’s multi-beam satellites on 30MHz S-band spectrum and cover all 28 EU member states, reports Engadget. On the ground side, Deutsche Telekom will be using 300 modified LTE sites with a range of up to 80 kilometers in order to connect to passing planes at high altitudes. The system will automatically switch between LTE and satellite connections, depending on the altitude of the aircraft, and in theory will do so without interfering with the passenger’s connection.

The European Aviation Network aims to start a flight test program in 2017. Lufthansa is named as one of the airlines committed to the trial, but since the airline is planning to offer satellite-based broadband services on its European flights using Inmarsat’s service from summer 2016, passengers won’t have long to wait to enjoy high-speed in-flight Internet connectivity.