FCC Gives Classic Gogo ATG a Six-month Reprieve

Due to delays in delivery of software components and an extension of a U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) deadline, Gogo has moved the planned transition to its LTE air-to-ground (ATG) network to Nov. 8, 2026.

As such, Gogo’s classic ATG network will continue to operate until this November deadline instead of being shut down on May 1, giving owners of Gogo classic systems six more months of connectivity before having to upgrade. Meanwhile, customers who have upgraded their Gogo equipment for the higher-speed 4G service that was to take effect on May 1 will also have to wait for the November transition.

“This extension ensures all our customers remain connected while we complete the final steps needed to deliver the high-quality, reliable experience they expect,” Gogo CEO Chris Moore told AIN. “For customers who have already prepared their aircraft for the upgrade, service will continue without interruption. Importantly, customers with legacy Gogo systems will also remain connected during this period.”

The FCC deadline extension was a result of petitions from several participants in the agency’s Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program, also known as the Rip-and-Replace Program. The FCC provided funds to help providers remove, replace, and dispose of equipment that was no longer needed, and petitioners, including Gogo, submitted a variety of reasons for delays in complying with the program.

“In light of the time that has passed since the allocation of full funding for all Priority 1 recipients in April 2025, in addition to the time that recipients have had to complete their RRD [removal, replacement, and disposal] work since their initial approvals in 2022, we expect that all recipients will be able to complete their RRD work within their terms, as extended by this order and without further extensions,” the FCC noted.

“The decision to secure this extension was driven by rigorous testing that showed certain partner-provided software components were not yet meeting our performance and quality standards,” Moore explained. “Because our network transition is a ‘flash cut’ without backup spectrum, service continuity from day one is our top priority. Delaying the transition to ensure the software is fully mature is the most responsible decision to protect the customer experience.

“We are working to complete the final software validation and do not currently plan to go beyond the extended date. We continue to encourage customers who have not yet transitioned to move forward with their planned hardware upgrades to be ready to take full advantage of the new network’s capabilities.”