In-Flight Connectivity Goes North

Gogo Business Aviation announced on 24 April 2023 that it will expand its Gogo 5G network into Canada, thereby providing additional coverage to business aviation operators in North America.

Gogo president and CEO Sergio Aguirre (Pictured) stated: “Building on our nationwide network in the contiguous United States, expanding into Canada will allow our customers to realize enhanced inflight connectivity in more destinations and routes where they fly.”

Mr. Aguirre added: “We have been planning for this and I know our network deployment and field operations teams are ready to execute.”

Gogo 5G is expected to deliver, on average, ~25 Megabits-per-second (Mbps), with peak speeds in the 75-80 Mbps range, empowering aircraft passengers to make use of data-heavy interactive services the likes of video conferencing, live television, and gaming with lower latency and higher throughput.

At the 2019 NBAA-BACE, Gogo declared its commitment to building a 5G network embodying bleeding-edge aviation connectivity. At 2022’s NBAA-BACE—in an instance of commendable follow-through—Gogo announced it had completed and deployed the entirety of its 150-site, nationwide 5G network. 

The multi-bearer capability and software-centric design of Gogo’s AVANCE platform allows customers to future-proof their inflight connectivity investments, and offers upgrade paths to Gogo’s 5G and global Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite-based networks.

What’s more, the first-article Supplemental Type Certification (STC) for the 5G belly-mounted MB13 antennas and the X3 (5G) Line Replaceable Units (LRU) have been completed. Subject STC will be amended once Samsung’s much-anticipated 5G chips become available.

Gogo is working with business aviation OEMs and numerous authorized Gogo dealers to develop additional STCs covering north of thirty factory-new and aftermarket aircraft models.

Customers seeking Gogo connectivity in the short-term have the option of installing the AVANCE L5 5G system and operating on Gogo’s 4G network until the X3 LRU becomes available. Upon reaching market, the X3 can be quickly installed, and 5G service enabled with minimal downtime and expense.

To date, over 2,500 commercial aircraft and 6,600 business aircraft have been equipped with Gogo’s onboard Wi-Fi services. The advent of the company’s 5G network stands to diminish the rigors of air-travel by keeping air-travelers in immediate and reliable contact with online platforms and services as well as their colleagues and families.

FMI: www.business.gogoair.com