Why SpaceX's Deal To Provide Starlink Wi-Fi To Airline Passengers Matters
SpaceX has inked a deal with Texas-based aviation startup JSX to offer in-flight Wi-Fi on its airborne vehicles via Starlink satellites. In 2021, SpaceX Vice President Jonathan Hofeller confirmed that the company was already in talks with several airlines to ink a deal that would provide in-flight Wi-Fi using Starlink satellite internet connectivity. By that point, the company had already conducted demonstrations for potential clients. Musk also tweeted in June 2021 that the company was focusing on the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 airliners, while development was also underway for the Gulfstream lineup of business jet aircraft.
The likes of OneWeb and Amazon’s Project Kuiper are also in the race to dominate the satellite internet race, but SpaceX appears to have the headstart, both in terms of existing infrastructure and pockets deep enough to supercharge its efforts. However, none of the aforementioned companies are really a Starlink rival when it comes to aviation-focused internet, which is currently a two-way battle between Viasat (serves JetBlue, Delta, and Virgin Atlantic) and Intelsat-owned Gogo (partner of America Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and United Airlines). But SpaceX and Starlink already have a key advantage up their sleeve. Aside from operating the densest constellation of internet-beaming satellites, SpaceX also commands the most capable fleet of vehicles ready to inject more satellites into the lower-Earth orbit.
Related: Elon Musk Forced To Raise Prices For SpaceX Starlink Due To Inflation
Taking the first step en route to its in-flight Wi-Fi service ambitions, Starlink has signed a contract with JSX to beam internet on its fleet of aircraft via the Starlink satellite network later in 2022, reports
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