Radical Radio Solution

Current Problem

Aircraft data communication is currently based on either cellular air-to-ground wireless (2G) or satellite technology. Both have substantial bandwidth limitations, suitable only for light data-transfer volumes.

The typical data rate for the current systems is less than 3 Mbps to a single plane, if it is the only plane in the coverage area. When there are multiple planes within the coverage area, all the planes share the same data link and therefore the data rate is diminished. This limited data rate is also shared among all the passengers using the service on each plane in the coverage area. For this reason, we have seen data rates as low as 170 kilobits per second (Kbps), barely faster than a dial-up modem. Expert and experienced Internet users do not hold a high regard for the existing connectivity alternatives available on the airlines today.

Wi-SKY Solution

The Wi-SKY Inflight radio delivers industry-changing bandwidth for aircraft in flight. The company has demonstrated a data connection of 45 megabits per second (Mbps) to and from an aircraft flying 500 mph at 36,000 feet and 54 miles away from the ground transmitter. This data rate is an astonishing 30 times faster than throughput available with existing technology. The Wi-SKY radio costs less and weighs less than alternative systems. The Wi-SKY technology cannot be duplicated, and is protected by multiple patents filed and pending. Engineers are working to upgrade the radio to deliver an extreme bandwidth of 100 Mbps at 160 km (100 miles) by the expected launch date in the third calendar quarter 2010.

Wi-SKY Inflight technology enables aircraft to transfer data to and from the ground in volumes and at speeds that were never before possible.