ViaSat and Boeing team up to provide faster in-flight Wi-Fi

ViaSat and Boeing have entered into an on-going agreement that will see the ViaSat on-board Wi-Fi service offered to customers buying commercial aircraft.

ViaSat claims its internet service is eight to ten times faster than other Wi-Fi options offered on aeroplanes, meaning operators can offer extra inflight services such as streaming to passengers and in-flight crew.

It integrates ViaSat's high-capacity ViaSat-2 satellite payload design with Boeing's 702SP (Small Platform) satellite bus, enabling satellite providers around the world to use the service.

The number of people or devices connected to the service will not affect the quality or speed of the connection and it is covered by a service level agreement for complete peace of mind.

"Our agreement with Boeing is an important milestone giving our airline customers the ability to get the best onboard Wi-Fi system delivered with their new aircraft," said Don Buchman, vice president and general manager, Commercial Mobility at ViaSat.

"By selecting ViaSat in-flight communications for Boeing's fleet, airlines now can differentiate their in-flight internet service with a flexible, sustainable business model that will continue to create value as more passengers use the service."

Boeing said passengers are increasingly requesting a reliable internet service on flights, which ViaSat's Ka-band airborne satellite terminal offers and the deal offering the equipment to be preinstalled will also benefit airlines because it means planes don't have to be out of service while the new satellite system is being installed - usually a costly process.

"In initiating the evaluation process with long-time partner ViaSat, we now look to add ViaSat airborne terminals to our line-fit factory options," John Craig, chief engineer of Cabin and Network Systems for Boeing Commercial Airplanes added. "This will give Boeing's commercial airline customers a new cost- and time-effective high-bandwidth connectivity choice for their airplanes."