JetBlue Picks ViaSat for Inflight Broadband

JetBlue Airways has selected ViaSat’s Ka-band satellite technology for inflight broadband JetBlue’s fleet of more than 160 aircraft. Under the arrangement, ViaSat will provide Ka-band antenna components and SurfBeam2 modems for installation on the airline’s EMBRAER E190 and Airbus A320 aircraft types along with two-way transmission bandwidth services using the WildBlue-1 and high-capacity ViaSat-1 satellites.
JetBlue subsidiary, LiveTV LLC, will manage the integration of the ViaSat broadband and related components onboard the aircraft as well as providing the Wi-Fi enabled services into the overall cabin experience. Because the product will be the first of its kind for commercial aviation, the system must be tested, and certificated by the Federal Aviation Administration, prior to installation fleet-wide. The companies said they expect the first installations to occur by mid-2012.
http://www.jetblue.com
http://www.viasat.com