Elon Musk’s SpaceX deploys in-flight WiFi service for private jets with Starlink Aviation
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is expanding its satellite internet unit’s foray into in-flight WiFi services with Wednesday’s rollout of Starlink Aviation, providing customers with a $150,000 aircraft antenna. la (nearly 1.2 crore) in the context of competition for air connectivity.
Starlink, SpaceXgrowing network of thousands of internet satellitewill charge customers searching for broadband Internet on private jets from $12,500 (nearly Rs 10.3 lakh) to $25,000 (nearly Rs 20.7) a month for the service, in addition to costs $150,000 one-time hardware, the company said. website.
Starlink Aviation will begin delivering terminals in mid-2023, the airline said on its website, with pre-booking requiring a payment of $5,000 (nearly Rs 4.1 lakh). It is added to each terminal that can provide up to 350Mbps, which is fast enough for video calls and play games online.
Low construction companies-The earth Orbiting satellite networks with broadband internet, such as SpaceX’s Starlink and UK-backed satellite operator OneWeb, are racing against airlines and private jet services in a market dominated by companies like Inmarsat and its rival ViaSat, which are planning to merge.
On Tuesday, OneWeb announced an agreement with airline giant Panasonic Avionics, which provides services to about 70 airlines, to market and sell OneWeb’s broadband service to airlines by mid-air. year 2023.
Britain’s competition regulator last week recommended Viasat take over its planned rival Inmarsat to launch an in-depth investigation into ties that could hinder new competition in the air-to-air connectivity market. air and increase the cost of in-flight Wi-Fi by airlines.
SpaceX plans to provide Starlink internet connectivity to Hawaiian Airlines planes next year. The company provides services to marine and RV customers, and already has tens of thousands of individual consumers paying $110 (nearly Rs 9,100) a month with a $599 terminal (nearly Rs 49,700).
In other news, Elon Musk said on Tuesday that SpaceX’s Starlink services have not received any funding from the US Department of Defense. The statement came a day after reports that the Pentagon was considering paying for the Starlink satellite network in war-torn Ukraine. According to Musk’s tweet, SpaceX is losing about $20 million (about Rs 165.
© Thomson Reuters 2022