The Magical Science of Wi-Fi on Airplanes

How we browse the internet at 35,000 feet

Sarvesh Mathi
OneZero

--

Credit: Colin Anderson Productions pty ltd/Getty Images

SSurfing the internet at 35,000 feet is now something that we expect on flights. According to the 2018 Global Traveler study, 94% of global travelers feel that inflight internet would enhance their travel experience and 30% of them explicitly look for this feature when booking their flight.

Source: 2018 Global Traveler Study

Currently, airlines make $17 per passenger for services like inflight food and retail. Inflight Wi-Fi will add $4 to this ancillary revenue and is estimated to bring in $30 billion in additional revenue for airlines by 2035.

Given these stats, it’s not surprising to see airlines around the world rushing to add inflight Wi-Fi to their list of amenities. But how does an airline deliver this modern luxury to flyers who are cruising at nearly 560 mph at more than 6 miles above sea level?

There are two ways for the internet to reach planes:

Air to ground (ATG) system

This system, the first to be developed, works like the ground-based mobile data network you’re accustomed to through your cell phone. But unlike…

--

--

Responses (23)