SmartSky Partners with Kontron for Cabin Wi-Fi Access Point

SmartSky Networks, a new company that is fielding an air-to-ground telecom network for the aviation market, announced a partnership with cabin Wi-Fi access point (CWAP) manufacturer Kontron yesterday at the AEA Convention in Dallas. The SmartSky 4G service should provide more than 10 times the typical speed and capacity of networks currently on the market by using 60 MHz of spectrum for its air-to-ground data communications, according to the Melbourne, Fla.-based company.

Kontron CWAP hardware has been installed in business jets, as well as Airbus A330s and Boeing 767s. “The Kontron CWAP’s enterprise routing and Wi-Fi access point functionality align perfectly with SmartSky’s open ecosystem,” said Blane Rockafellow, SmartSky Networks vice president of product development. “Our partnership with Kontron will enable SmartSky to offer our customers an affordable, yet highly capable, next-generation CWAP option.”

SmartSky is planning to begin beta testing its 4G network later this year and expects to begin offering commercial service next year. Pricing is expected to be “similar to traditional ATG,” the company said, which would mean comparable to Gogo Business Aviation’s currently available ATG service.