An American company offers the possibility of surfing on the Internet by plane for a few years. Formerly limited to a few flights, Gogo is now available more widely over the USA, a prelude before an inevitable global expansion?
Aircell is an American company born as many others: on a napkin in a Texas restaurant. Founded in 1991, it was originally intended to address the lack of affordable communication systems in aircraft. However, it wasn't until 2008 so that it reaches some recognition, and the launch of Gogo. This service mainly provided access to inexpensive Internet passengers to some commercial flights to the North American continent.
The first limitation is interesting, as one might imagine that a conventional aerial telecommunications system would be designed to operate around the world. In reality, the majority of existing networks, including with regard to satellite telephony, are not global. Aircell actually uses quite classic cell phone towers, with one difference: their antennae are plotted to the sky! This therefore explains the affordable side of technology, but also its limitations. Aircell currently has a little less 100 sites covering the United States, a part of the Canada and Mexico City.
It is entirely reasonable coverage for only five years old network. The company received its first permissions on the part of the FCC in 2006. GoGo was officially launched with American Airlines in 2008, on some flights between New York and San Francisco. If the majority of Delta Airlines fleet is now equipped with in-flight WiFi, availability in the aircraft of other US companies is more limited (total of a little less than 1 100 aircraft are currently equipped with). It is also the main brake for the use of the web at 35,000 feet! Aircell promises his side coverage satellite over America in the year 2013, almost completely eliminating areas of shadows of the network, the rest of the world to be covered by 2015.
The cells used by the Gogo service are based on standard EV - DO (Evolution-Data Optimized), an evolution of the CDMA standard used by some American operators. Peak flows of this technology are 3.1 Mb/s in the downhill, and 1.8 Mb/s climb. Note, however, that Aircell shall update its towers in early 2012 with the Rev. (B) of the EV - DO standard, which will allow flows very significantly higher. In the plane, is a central unit, and a couple of access points Wi-Fi, manufactured by the American company training. To connect, the user must simply have a device supporting the ubiquitous technology wireless and that have an Internet browser. This WiFi network is powerful enough to cover the aircraft, and even more since we have more than once could receive the signal from a terminal, see even in a hotel under one of the air corridors leading to the tracks of the Los Angeles Airport! We were able to test the famous service several times on flights US Airways (which offers Gogo on the Airbus A321 fleet 50) as well as on a Delta flight.
This technology impresses the most when everything works as expected, and this is the case with Gogo (this example is more stable than the service offered in the Thalys trains.) Flows are generally similar to those of a first generation ADSL line (512 K kb/s), which is enough to work. The majority of users of the service also simply exchange e-mails, or spend time on Facebook, and therefore, download a few files without too many worries. The VPN work normally without problem, and VoIP (even if it be the EV - DO Rev.) ((B) to make the video in 1080p). Small anecdote, some companies have apparently placed filters on sites for adults...
The pricing of Gogo is exhaustive. It is also not uncommon that the service is offered for one reason or another (temporary business transaction, promotional code, etc.). Aircell offers unlimited monthly package 34,95 $ and different Pass for 30 sold between $ 19.95 and 39,95 $ (a company or several, or mobile devices). The lambda user will often opt for a Pass covering his flight, or a period of 24 hours. The rates are then 4.95 $ 12.95 $ (depending on the duration of the flight and the aircraft type). GoGo is also integrated to the Boingo packages (which already cover more than 125,000 hotspots, and including hundreds of airports).
GoGo is ultimately a very convenient service, that you would like to see spread in other countries around the world! A "dream" which will be soon be reality...
