Inmarsat's new satellite and air-to-ground will provide European flight passengers with broadband Internet access when the service is launched in 2016.
According to Reuters, passengers can access the Internet from their seat backs, smartphones or tablets while flying via the british telecommunications company's new service.
Inmarsat will expend up to $250 million to install components for the service's ground network, and a new Thales Alenia Space S-band satellite, according to Bloomberg. Inmarsat will divide the "Europasat" satellite's expenses with greek business, Hellas Sat SA. The company now belongs to communications satellite operator Arabsat. The new satellite will arrive in time for the specialized Wi-Fi's kickoff, Reuters reported.
While price details are still up in the air, airlines could base costs for the service on what each company wants to charge: capacity, price-per-flight, or monthly packages for frequent fliers.
According to Bloomberg, Gogo Inc. has many options passengers can choose from as the service's sole provider. One hour of Gogo inc. internet use cost $5. 24 hours costs, while a month goes for $60.
Inmarsat's CEO said the service works all over one of the world's seven continents.
"Inmarsat will deliver high-speed mobile broadband to the seat back or to the passengers' own mobile device, whether that's a laptop or a phone or a pad throughout Europe," Rupert Pearce said in an interview. "This transforms the potential for connectivity for aircraft flying around Europe. It's going to be at a rate that is commensurate with terrestrial services."
Pearce said the British tech giant's service has great potential in the region.
"We believe there is a strong read-across from the American experience into the European short-haul market," Rupert Pearce said in a Tuesday conference call, Bloomberg reported.
Pearce also mentioned that the tech company is looking into implementing the service with other airlines.
The European Commission plans to use airwaves for a service throughout the continent.
