Inflight internet is set to take off, despite device bans
Aviation experts agree that by 2021, nearly half the global fleet of commercial aircraft will be equipped for inflight internet
Le Bourget, France — Inflight internet access, a nascent market still hobbled by slow speeds, is set to take off as dedicated satellites make surfing in the skies a reality, experts say. Even bans on bringing laptops and tablets on board imposed by Britain and the US on flights departing from certain airports won’t halt it, industry players and analysts gathered at the Paris Air Show believe. "It is undeniably a trend. The main thing is to jump on the wave at the right moment," said Marc Rochet, CEO of the low-cost airline French Blue, about the technology which is rapidly evolving — but comes with a high price tag. By 2021, more than 17,000 airliners — or nearly half the global fleet of commercial aircraft — will be equipped for inflight internet, according to a recent study by Euroconsult. This is close to triple the 6,500 planes equipped in 2016. The increase is being driven by a new generation of satellites that allow the use of smaller and lighter antennae on aircraft, as well ...
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