Aircell
Encyclopedia
Aircell is a private company started in 1991 developing broadband
for both private and commercial aviation. Aircell is the only company in the United States
authorized by the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) and Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) to use frequencies in the 800 MHz band for inflight communications. Aircell successfully bid $31.3 million for a 3 MHz air-to-ground spectrum in an FCC auction in June 2006. The system is based on the TIA-856-A Evolution Data Optimized (EV-DO) standard.
Aircell holds over 20 patents relating to technology for airborne telecommunications. Formation, based in Moorestown, NJ, developed two critical hardware components of Aircell's Gogo Inflight Internet
system: its Central Processor Unit (ACPU) and the custom built Cabin Wireless Access Point (CWAP).
On August 1, 2007, American Airlines
partnered with Aircell to offer broadband on American's flights. On September 13, 2007, Virgin America
partnered with Aircell to add broadband capabilities to their flights.
On January 22, 2008, American Airlines completed the first aircraft installation of the Aircell Internet broadband connection at American's Kansas City
maintenance base. The airline plans to install and test the broadband technology in 2008 on all 15 of its Boeing 767-200 aircraft. The technology will provide customers an Internet connection, virtual private network (VPN) access and email capabilities.
On February 29, 2008, Aircell unveiled the product name as Gogo Inflight Internet
.
On August 5, 2008, Delta Air Lines
announced it was installing Aircell's Gogo Inflight system on all of its airplanes over the subsequent year. Delta later decided to filter pornographic content on its flights after customer and employee responses.
On August 20, 2008, Aircell’s Gogo going went live on American Airlines. Aircell’s Gogo will be available to customers as a fee-based service in all cabins. Aircell will charge $12.95 on flights more than three hours, which include American’s Boeing 767-200 flights. Each paid Gogo session includes full Internet access.
On May 12, 2009, AirTran Airways
announced it will install Aircell's Gogo Inflight System on all of its airplanes by late July 2009.
On February 24, 2010 Alaska Airlines
announced it will install Aircell's Gogo Inflight system on all of its airplanes.
Broadband
The term broadband refers to a telecommunications signal or device of greater bandwidth, in some sense, than another standard or usual signal or device . Different criteria for "broad" have been applied in different contexts and at different times...
for both private and commercial aviation. Aircell is the only company in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
authorized by the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) and Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
(FAA) to use frequencies in the 800 MHz band for inflight communications. Aircell successfully bid $31.3 million for a 3 MHz air-to-ground spectrum in an FCC auction in June 2006. The system is based on the TIA-856-A Evolution Data Optimized (EV-DO) standard.
Aircell holds over 20 patents relating to technology for airborne telecommunications. Formation, based in Moorestown, NJ, developed two critical hardware components of Aircell's Gogo Inflight Internet
Gogo Inflight Internet
Gogo provides in-flight broadband Internet service, streaming video and other connectivity services for commercial and business aircraft. In June of 2011, the company formally changed its name from Aircell to Gogo as part of a rebranding effort...
system: its Central Processor Unit (ACPU) and the custom built Cabin Wireless Access Point (CWAP).
History
The company states that the idea for Aircell began in a barbecue restaurant in Denison, Texas, where company founder Jimmy Ray first made sketches on a paper napkin for an affordable telephone system for airplanes. Jimmy Ray subsequently formed Aircell.On August 1, 2007, American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
partnered with Aircell to offer broadband on American's flights. On September 13, 2007, Virgin America
Virgin America
Virgin America, Inc. is a United States-based low-cost airline that began service on August 8, 2007. The airline's stated aim is to provide low-fare, high-quality service for "long-haul point-to-point service between major metropolitan cities on the Eastern and West Coast seaboards." San Francisco...
partnered with Aircell to add broadband capabilities to their flights.
On January 22, 2008, American Airlines completed the first aircraft installation of the Aircell Internet broadband connection at American's Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
maintenance base. The airline plans to install and test the broadband technology in 2008 on all 15 of its Boeing 767-200 aircraft. The technology will provide customers an Internet connection, virtual private network (VPN) access and email capabilities.
On February 29, 2008, Aircell unveiled the product name as Gogo Inflight Internet
Gogo Inflight Internet
Gogo provides in-flight broadband Internet service, streaming video and other connectivity services for commercial and business aircraft. In June of 2011, the company formally changed its name from Aircell to Gogo as part of a rebranding effort...
.
On August 5, 2008, Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
announced it was installing Aircell's Gogo Inflight system on all of its airplanes over the subsequent year. Delta later decided to filter pornographic content on its flights after customer and employee responses.
On August 20, 2008, Aircell’s Gogo going went live on American Airlines. Aircell’s Gogo will be available to customers as a fee-based service in all cabins. Aircell will charge $12.95 on flights more than three hours, which include American’s Boeing 767-200 flights. Each paid Gogo session includes full Internet access.
On May 12, 2009, AirTran Airways
AirTran Airways
AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of the Dallas, Texas-based Southwest Airlines, is an American low-cost airline headquartered in Orlando, Florida. AirTran operates over 650 daily flights , primarily in the eastern and midwestern United States...
announced it will install Aircell's Gogo Inflight System on all of its airplanes by late July 2009.
On February 24, 2010 Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines is an airline based in the Seattle suburb of SeaTac, Washington in the United States. The airline originated in 1932 as McGee Airways. After many mergers with and acquisitions of other airlines, including Star Air Service, it became known as Alaska Airlines in 1944...
announced it will install Aircell's Gogo Inflight system on all of its airplanes.
See also
- OnAirOnAirIncorporated in February 2005, OnAir is a joint venture with SITA and Airbus. OnAir is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and has operations in Seattle and Montreal and sales offices in London, Kuala Lumpur and Dubai....
- AeroMobileAeroMobileAeroMobile was established as a joint venture between ARINC and Telenor in 2006 and since January 2010, AeroMobile is a wholly owned subsidiary of Telenor...
- Panasonic AvionicsPanasonic Avionics CorporationPanasonic Avionics Corporation is a subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation and is headquartered in Lake Forest, California with major business functions also shared with the former headquarters located in Bothell, WA.Established in 1980, the product engineering and development departments are...
- Row 44Row 44Row 44 is a Westlake Village, California-based company providing in-flight broadband connectivity for the passengers, cockpit and crew of commercial aircraft...
- Connexion by BoeingConnexion by BoeingConnexion by Boeing was an in-flight online Internet connectivity service from Boeing. This service allowed travellers to access a high-speed internet connection while on board a plane in flight through a wired Ethernet or a wireless 802.11 Wi-Fi connection. Connexion by Boeing was formed as a...