Panasonic May Relaunch In-flight Broadband

Glenn Fleishman writes "Panasonic's avionics division may relaunch Connexion by Boeing by using similar technology that's better, cheaper, and lighter. The company said today that they were looking to get airlines to commit to 500 planes within 60 days, and already had 150 aircraft committed. They'd still use Ku band, but have a cheaper and smaller set of leases. Connexion had at least $120m in yearly fixed expenses, a large part of which was transponder licenses. The new service would provide 12 Mbps down and 3 Mbps (versus Connexion's 5 Mbps/1 Mbps), and be priced conceivably as low as $10 per session wholesale, with airlines choosing to not mark up rates. With that higher rate, even with latency, in-flight VoIP seems more achievable at a reasonable cost, although some airlines may choose to block VoIP services. I reported for The Economist magazine last week about mobile phones in flight (services coming in Europe in 2007). Three U.S. airlines told me that American passengers have very low interest or negative interest in allowing any voice (cell or otherwise) during flights. Europeans, with shorter flights and lower expectations of privacy perhaps, are more open to it." We covered the story back when Boeing decided to scrap Connexion.

Comments

What I do care about...

[HatchedEggs]

I could really care less about making calls on a plane. In fact, I WOULD HATE IT. You know why? Because every annoying person in the world would converge on my airplane and make calls through-out the flight. This would result in me not being able to sleep or relax, and I would then arrive at my destination tired and strained.

Slippery slope? Not really, think about all the boring calls you have to listen to on a shorter transit system. Now put 300 bored people on a plane and see how they go about trying to relieve that boredome.

Now. I would certainly be happy to have internet access on the plane... and the slight tapping of keys I could deal with. Plus, give me something to do on my computer and I'd easily forget what else was going on.

So what do I say? Spare me having to listen to cell phones or VOIP for the whole plane trip. If you can limit it to 10 minutes of calling per passenger, then fine. Otherwise, stop trying to make my co-passengers even more annoying.

Re:What I do care about...

[Qzukk]

I WOULD HATE IT. You know why? Because every annoying person in the world would converge on my airplane and make calls through-out the flight.

I smell a business model here.

You can pay $10 to use the internet.
You can pay $20 to use the internet and let VoIP traffic through.
You can pay $50 to disable the VoIP traffic for the people sitting in the seats around you :)

Inconceivable

[LoverOfJoy]

priced conceivably as low as $10 per session wholesale, with airlines choosing to not mark up rates.

Is it really conceivable for airlines to not mark up rates of something?

...but look on the bright side

[RuBLed]

... ...

It's not about privacy

[DRue]

"Europeans, with shorter flights and lower expectations of privacy"

It has nothing to do with privacy, and everything to do with the fact that nobody wants to sit in a tin can listening to some guy talk for 2 hours about his hemorrhoids and digestive problems.

Re:It's not about privacy

[forkazoo]

"Europeans, with shorter flights and lower expectations of privacy"

It has nothing to do with privacy, and everything to do with the fact that nobody wants to sit in a tin can listening to some guy talk for 2 hours about his hemorrhoids and digestive problems.

Indeed. Considering the current issues of warrantless wiretapping, I can't imagine why Americans would have higher expectations of privacy. We just know that our fellow americans would abuse the ability to talk loudly in a confined place. Now, I wouldn't mind seeing a reasonably priced sound proof phone booth on the airplane. If I need to make an important call, I can. But, I can do it without disturbing other passengers. Hell, maybe just put phones in the bathroom, and make them dual purpose...

Re:It's not about privacy

[Rix]

Um, no.

The "danger" cell phones pose to airplanes is that you might get a signal, and not pay $10 a minute for the in flight phone system.

missing word?

[rocketman768]

The new service would provide 12 Mbps down and 3 Mbps (versus Connexion's 5 Mbps/1 Mbps), and be priced conceivably as low as $10...

Should that read "...and 3 Mbps UP..."?

This seems wrong

[empaler]

"... Europeans, with shorter flights and lower expectations of privacy perhaps, are more open to it."

The last few times I've had to fly, I haven't been asked to have an anal probe inserted while answering ungodly questions about my personal life. That's because I fly in Europe.

We all know where this is headed

[Ugly American]

In related news, the RIAA has announced the purchase of several F-22A raptors to pursue downloaders.

Re:It's not the privacy... it's the ANNOYANCE!!

[Achromatic1978]

If you hate people having social interactions within earshot of you, buy noise cancelling headphones. What is it, "Thank you for your time watching the safety demonstration. Now, sit back, relax, and enjoy your flight. And do so quietly, for Ledfoot in Seat 38A has requested silence, for your inane braying is annoying to him."?

Re:I don't travel often

[John Hasler]

> What is wrong with you people. My right to extend my arm ends when it hits
> your face, not before.

But your right to yammer on your phone extends right inside my ear?

Re:Public Airwaves

[fireman sam]

into phone: Hello... yeah?... can you hear me now?... how about now?... yeah?... good... Listen I just called... what?... How about now?... good... Listen, I just wanted to say... wanted to say that... now?... Say that I have to agree with you about the lack of... Hang on... How about now?... lack of manners that some people have when they are on the... Is that better?... when they are on the phone... How about now?... I'll call you again in 5 minutes... You're breaking up... I'll call you back...
  to fellow passenger (trying to sleep): Don't you just hate these things?

Thankyou

So sad.

[Rob T Firefly]

and already had 150 aircraft committed.

It was for their own protection. The poor unfortunate airplanes had completely lost their grip on reality, and believed themselves to be ocean liners.

When the 737s started terrorizing maintenance workers on the runway by taxing over to them and shouting "I'm a luxury cruise ship, play shuffleboard on me damn you!" we knew it was time for the padded hangars.