Tuesday, March 26, 2024

JSX to be the first air carrier to adapt SpaceX Starlink internet inflight

The Starlink constellation of satellites brought into the orbit by SpaceX will not only serve to connect the rural areas and other parts of the world that don’t already have access to high-speed broadband but also make air travel less boring and more productive.

In this context, SpaceX has signed its first deal with independent air carrier JSX to add Starlink satellite internet to an air carrier’s fleet of planes. The deal involves equipping 100 airplanes with Starlink terminals, with the first Starlink-connected plane taking flight by the end of the year.

JSX will provide Starlink internet service to passengers free of charge, with no login screens required to access the network. This will allow passengers to browse online resources, indulge in relaxation by watching a streaming movie without having downloaded it first or work while waiting to arrive at their destination.

SpaceX launched around 2,000 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit since its first launch in 2019 and is planning to deploy many thousand more in an attempt to blanket the planet in high-speed internet. Though the network is not yet fully deployed, it offers broadband internet service to thousands of customers in a handful of countries. The aerospace company recently introduced a premium tier of its internet service with higher performance that is targeted at businesses and enterprise customers. Users pay $110 a month for the standard service and $500 a month for the premium tier.

Last year, Elon Musk‘s company applied for regulatory approval from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to operate Starlink on airplanes and shipping vessels.