Staying connected in the air

The in-flight communications services provider Gogo has started its first transatlantic connectivity service with SES satellite capacity.

In 2012, nearly 2700 commercial airliners worldwide had on-board connectivity, a 60% increase on 2011. Consumer expectations and demand for inflight bandwidth – and a world class inflight entertainment (IFE) experience – will only grow.

The launch of the in-flight service over the Atlantic marks an important milestone for the strategic partnership between Gogo and SES. The two companies signed satellite capacity and ground support agreements about a year ago, aimed at the continuous delivery of high-speed broadband internet connectivity services to passengers flying over the U.S., the Atlantic Ocean region and Europe.

What airlines need, SES has - reliable global Ku-band coverage that supports all international flight paths, and the global satellite/teleport footprint to enable seamless in-flight connectivity.

High power Ku-band mobility beams over the Atlantic will help passengers and crew enjoy high-speed internet, voice, and live TV on their smartphones, tablets or laptops.

Gogo's Ku-band-delivered in-flight service relies on three SES spacecraft. The SES-1 satellite enables airline passengers flying over the U.S. to access Gogo's high-speed internet service, while the SES-6 satellite with its powerful mobility beams provides seamless coverage over the North Atlantic, and the SES-4 spacecraft serves Europe. All three spacecraft were instrumental in enabling transatlantic passengers to access Gogo's high-speed broadband for the first time.

On September 9, 2013, Panasonic Avionics and Hughes Network Systems announced major agreements to use SES’ newest satellite, SES-6, to connect passengers aboard transatlantic flights.

With these providers on-board, SES-6 is set to become a go-to platform for trans-Atlantic coverage, a key part of SES global network, helping service providers develop new opportunities and reach new markets.