Story ID: 
Gogo Terrestrial Trials Validating 5G Performance
By: Kerry Lynch
Caption: Company is nearing flight trials of the 5G service
Word Count: 355
Gogo is nearing flight-testing of its 5G air-to-ground (ATG) technology as it works to bring the service online by year-end, the company announced today. Terrestrial tests thus far are showing that the 5G chip is exceeding anticipated speeds and will bring new ATG performance to the Continental U.S., offering reliable, cost-effective broadband connectivity, Gogo said.
Testing has moved from virtual modeling to that in the Avance LX5 platform with MB13 antennas and associated software. It has delivered peak speeds of up to 80 Mbps, Gogo said, demonstrating that the 5G chip is working as expected. The high speeds and low latency will support streaming, videoconferencing, and other data-intensive applications across multiple devices, Gogo added.
“With these outcomes, we’re resetting expectations around former ATG performance and are excited that we will be delivering a high-speed service that delivers the same type of experience you’d expect from an internet service at home or in the office,” said Gogo CEO Chris Moore. “By validating the actual equipment and software that will be installed on the aircraft, alongside the 5G ground tower network, we are showing that customers can expect high-speed broadband from service activation.”
More than 300 business aircraft are pre-provisioned for the Gogo 5G network, thanks to 28 supplemental type certificates already completed for the installation. Five more STCs are nearing completion by year-end. Gogo has agreements in place with five OEMs for line fit of the equipment on aircraft, with one already installing the MB-13 antennas with the Avance L5 4G line replaceable units (LRUs) on the assembly line. These LRUs can be replaced with the Avance LX5 once the service is activated.
Gogo further anticipates interest in the service from the military and government sectors. “With the support of Government funding, Gogo is also leveraging our SD Pro operating system,” Moore added. “This enables monitoring and utilization of the military’s Primary, Alternate, Contingency, Emergency communications planning method, where units route different communication methods for situations where the primary method fails. Gogo 5G ATG is giving the forces an impressive, efficient new alternative for redundancy.”