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United Airlines bumps GEO operators off fleet for Starlink Wi-Fi

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Elderberry:
Space News by Jason Rainbow September 13, 2024

 United Airlines is replacing multiple geostationary operators with Starlink in SpaceX’s largest aviation Wi-Fi deal, shaking up the last satellite broadband market where the low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation had yet to gain significant traction.

The U.S. carrier announced plans Sept. 13 to start equipping the more than 1,000 planes in its international fleet with Starlink connectivity next year, following tests slated for early 2025.

Nicole Carriere, a spokesperson for United, declined to comment on rollout timing and details by aircraft type but said the company will transition from current Wi-Fi partners Viasat, Panasonic, Thales and Intelsat in “a multi-year process.”

United, which has more routes across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans than any other airline, plans to offer passengers high-speed, low-latency Starlink Wi-Fi for free.

“Everything you can do on the ground, you’ll soon be able to do onboard a United plane at 35,000 feet, just about anywhere in the world,” United CEO Scott Kirby said in a statement.

According to United, supported Starlink services would include live streaming, gaming and the ability to connect multiple devices at once under one user.

More: https://spacenews.com/united-airlines-bumps-geo-operators-off-fleet-for-starlink-wi-fi/

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