Flying can be an exciting experience the first few times. After that it becomes less interesting, especially if you fly long distances.
You constantly have to download movies and TV series to keep yourself busy during the flight. But sometimes even that gets boring.
In such cases, Wi-Fi on the plane comes to the rescue, allowing you to stay online even while high in the sky. Although the technology is not new (Wi-Fi first appeared on Boeing planes in 2004), it is in high demand.
Now we’ll figure out how it works, why it doesn’t work everywhere, and when it will appear in Russia.
Briefly
How does Wi-Fi work on a plane
Why is the internet on a plane not as fast as at home
Who provides internet on the plane?
What does SpaceX have to do with it?
How much does Wi-Fi cost on a plane
Why the Internet Doesn’t Work on Russian Airplanes
Wi-Fi on planes is important for many passengers
How does Wi-Fi work on a plane
Scheme of operation of the Internet via satellite and the system “Air-to-Ground” (ATG)
In-flight Wi-Fi works using two main technologies: satellite communications and the Air-to-Ground (ATG) system.
Satellite communications
In this case, the plane will remain to the satellite, which is in the Earth’s orbit. The data transfer process is arranged as follows:
1. The plane transmits data to a satellite via an antenna on the roof.
2. The satellite sends the received data to ground stations connected to the regular Internet.
3. Ground stations receive a response to the request and transmit it back to the satellite, which then sends the response to the aircraft.
Installing a Wi-Fi Antenna on a Lufthansa Plane
The advantage of this path is that it works virtually anywhere, including oceans and remote regions.
But due to the large distance between the aircraft, the satellite and the ground stations, the delay can be high and the internet speed can be low.
Air-to-Ground (ATG) system
The plane is a ground-based communication tower. They are similar to cell towers, but are designed to communicate with the plane.
In this case, data is transmitted directly from the aircraft to the tower and back, bypassing the satellite.
The advantages of this solution include data transfer speed, which is higher than via satellite.
The main disadvantage is that the Internet only works on land.and then only in those places where there are towers. It will not work over the ocean or in remote areas.
Modern aircraft are equipped with equipment that can automatically switch between satellite communications and ATG.
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Why is the internet on a plane not as fast as at home
Despite the various connection methods, the internet on the plane is still very slow.
For example, Wi-Fi on planes of the American airline JetBlue Airways works on average. 15-20 Mbps, and this is considered a very good resultUsually the internet speed on the plane does not reach 10 Mbps.
This is enough for instant messaging, watching videos in normal mode, and simply opening web pages. But we are not talking about 4K video streaming and online games.
In the case of games, in addition to low speed, there is a problem with high ping, which makes it impossible to play normally.
Internet on planes is slow for certain reasons.
Firstly, the plane flies fast and changes its position, because of this the signal may be lost or there may be difficulties with sending or receiving itAdditionally, an aircraft’s fuselage, wings, and other metal components can act as shields, tracking and reflecting RF signals and weakening Wi-Fi.
Secondly, there is a bandwidth limitation: the Internet works slower when many devices are connected to it.
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Who provides internet on the plane?
Wi-Fi Antenna Components in an Airplane
Airlines themselves do not provide internet on planes. For this, they rely on solutions from companies – aircraft communication operators. Among them are several major players:
▶︎ Gogo. One of the leading companies in the industry. It provides Internet access on planes via satellite and ATG.
▶︎ Panasonic Avionics. Another major operator, but it only provides access to satellite Internet.
▶︎ Viasat. Satellite internet is provided. It is known for using the most unusual equipment.
▶︎ Intelsat. Provides internet via satellites and ground towers. Its equipment is installed on more than 1,000 aircraft across North America.
Most operators choose satellite Internet because it expands the geography of use.
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What does SpaceX have to do with it?
Many believe that SpaceX and its Starlink satellites can solve the problems with internet on planes.
There are a lot of them, and they spend money in LEO because they win in speed and latency over regular satellite internet and ATG.
For now, Starlink is only available on planes operated by the American company Hawaiian Airlines, and it is completely free.
Real review and internet speed test on Hawaiian Airlines with Starlink internet
Users note that Starlink can be used to watch Netflix, play games on the Nintendo Switch, and download files. Internet speed reaches up to 200 Mbps.
Additionally, users can connect to Starlink immediately, just like on a plane. Internet is available in the parking lot while passengers board. On other planes, Wi-Fi is typically turned on after takeoff.
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How much does Wi-Fi cost on a plane
With Starlink and Hawaiian Airlines, everything is clear: the Internet is available for free and without any restrictions. But this is an exception to the rule, although Delta Air Lines has similar conditions.
Internet is usually a paid service on a plane. The hotel has different rates and restrictions.
🇦🇪 Emirates
▶︎ Basic for $9.99. Internet is provided for 30 minutes without traffic restrictions.
▶︎ Internet all over the world $9.99-$19.99. It is available free of charge to Emirates Skywards members.
▶︎ Messengers for $2.99 - $5.99. The Internet works only for popular messengers.
Prices depend on the route, hence the range.
🇹🇷 Turkish Airlines
▶︎ Unlimited messengers 5 dollars
▶︎ 100 MB traffic per 8 dollars
▶︎ 250 MB traffic per 15 dollars
▶︎ Unlimited short flights for 15 dollars
▶︎ Unlimited long distances 35 dollars
Free Internet is only available to Miles&Smiles program participants.
🇩🇪 Lufthansa
For short-haul flights:
▶︎ FlyNet Messaging for 3 euros. You can only communicate in popular messengers
▶︎ FlyNet Premium for 6-8 euros. The price depends on the duration of the flight, you can use the Internet at a speed of up to 4 Mbit/s.
Intercontinental flight rates:
▶︎ FlyNet Messaging from €5-7. Available throughout the flight
▶︎ FlyNet from €15. Internet in 2 hours at speeds up to 4 Mbit/s
▶︎ FlyNet Premium from €25. Internet on any flight at speeds up to 4 Mbps
Prices may vary depending on the weather and flight time (day/night).
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Why the Internet Doesn’t Work on Russian Airplanes
Until 2022, only Aeroflot offered Wi-Fi on Russian aircraft. The service was launched in 2021, but was shut down in the spring of 2022 due to restrictions.
Aeroflot starting fares for 2022:
▶︎ Messengers for 4.9$
▶︎ 50 MB in one hour $8.9
▶︎ 120 MB for three hours 16.9$
▶︎ 200 MB for the entire flight for 24.9$
Other Russian airlines did not offer such a service.
But in May 2024, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said that Wi-Fi on board Russian aircraft will be universally available from 2028.
This may happen after Russia launches its own satellite communications constellation. The first launch is planned for 2026.
Director of laser terminal development at Bureau 1440 Ksenia Lazarenko said that satellite internet will appear on airplanes in 2027. The company has already signed an agreement with Aeroflot.
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Wi-Fi on planes is important for many passengers
According to US airlines Delta and United Airlines, more than 1.5 million passengers use Wi-Fi on their planes.
The entire in-flight internet market was worth $5 billion in 2022. Verified Market Research estimates it will grow to $12 billion by 2030.
At the same time, the speed and quality of the Internet will improve. This is largely due to the satellite number, which is growing every year.
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Source: Iphones RU
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.
