A chip necessary for Gogo 5G has successfully completed critical design review, the Broomfield, Colorado-based in-flight connectivity provider announced today, adding that production is ramping up and delivery is anticipated by the middle of the year. This helps keep Gogo Business Aviation’s 5G service on pace to launch in the fourth quarter. The network was completed for the U.S. late last year and expansion to Canada is ongoing this year.
“The critical design review was an important process and milestone before entering into the manufacturing cycle,” said Mike Syverson, Gogo’s senior v-p of engineering. “Given the challenges that our supplier experienced in 2022, we felt that passing this amount of review would give us the confidence necessary to deliver 5G in 2023.”
The initial supplemental type certificate (STC) has been granted for the 5G belly-mounted MB13 antennas and the X3 (5G) LRU, Gogo said, and that STC will be amended once the chip is available.
Gogo has been working with manufacturers and authorized dealers on additional STCs that will cover more than 30 aircraft models, the company added. Customers can install Gogo’s Avance L5 platform now with 5G provisions and operate on the company’s 4G network until the X3 LRU is available.
Gogo 5G is expected to provide connectivity speeds averaging 25 Mbps, with peak speeds in the 75- to 80-Mbps range. The service is designed to handle data-heavy applications such as videoconferencing, live TV, and gaming.
Avance will be able to accommodate future advancements in connectivity, not only with Gogo 5G but also the company’s planned global low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite-based service, Gogo said.