Disconnexion
Posted by Harry McCracken | Thursday, August 17, 2006 10:23 PM PT
Sadly, the rumors turned out to be true: Boeing's Connexion by Boeing service, which provides satellite-based wireless broadband in airplanes, is
going bye-bye.
I've never used Connexion on a commercial flight--U.S. airlines were too cash-strapped to implement it, which is presumably one reason why Boeing wasn't able to make a go of it--but I'm planning to take a trip on Lufthansa next month on a route which, I believe, is Connexion-equipped. It sounds like Boeing will phase out the service in a leisurely enough fashion that I'll get to try Connexion. And I will--but wistfully so.
Meanwhile, I'm keeping tabs on JetBlue's
plans to introduce in-flight Internet access...and wondering just how long it'll take until Internet availability on planes is the normal state of affairs. Sooner or later, it's gotta happen...
I'm not sure why the focus continues to be on JetBlue. The auction that JetBlue won a license in had two licenses available: one for 3 MHz and one for 1 MHz. JetBlue paid $7m for 1 MHz. Both licenses are frequency divided in two equal pieces for uplink and downlink to the ground. AirCell paid over $30m for the 3 MHz license, beating Verizon AirFone and others, and they will be able to carry 1.5 Mbps each direction. They plan to launch with at least one domestic provider by the end of 2007. They also are in the process of getting coordination with the Carribbean nations, Canada, and Mexico through partners that should allow them to do the entire Western Hemisphere with the same equipment and spectrum.