Keeping an airplane connected to the internet while traveling at hundreds of miles per hour is a complex technical challenge, as heading, speed and direction change rapidly. Ichiro/Getty Images
Key Takeaways
- Many planes offer WiFi and live TV service.
- Passengers will be able to access the internet and stream entertainment during the flight.
- These amenities enhance travelers’ in-flight experience.
There was a time not so long ago when airline passengers had to make do with watching in-flight movies on the big screen in their cabin, reading a paperback book, or staring at the clouds outside the window — you couldn’t surf the Internet or watch TV, because you were on a plane.
That began to change in the late 2000s, when major airlines began offering wireless Internet connections on their planes. As a 2010 CBS News article noted, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) helped airlines make Internet connectivity a reality by auctioning blocks of frequency bands that were previously used for in-flight analog phone service. The service never caught on because it was too expensive.
As a result, it’s now possible to connect airline passengers to the Internet using cell towers on the ground; antenna fins on the plane detect the network and send and receive signals. As explained in an in-flight connectivity e-book from in-flight Internet provider GoGo Business Aviation, keeping an aircraft connected to the Internet while traveling at hundreds of miles per hour is a challenging engineering feat, as the system must also adapt to rapid changes in direction, speed and orientation.
In addition to air-to-ground (ATG) transmissions, aircraft can also connect to the Internet through orbiting satellites. Satellite connections also allow airlines to offer TV programming on board. JetBlue began using its satellite system in 2000 to offer passengers up to 24 TV channels, according to a company press release from that year.
American Airlines announced last September that it would offer free live TV and high-speed internet on the majority of its aircraft. Twelve channels, ranging from major broadcast networks CNN and TNT to the Disney Channel, will be streamed to customers’ laptops, phones and tablets. SFGate.com presents a rundown of in-flight TV options on various airlines.
