A group called the Seamless Alliance, which was formed by Airbus, Delta, OneWeb, Sprint and Airtel, plans to greatly improve Internet access for travelers aboard commercial planes. The group intends to improve the Internet connectivity experience by allowing mobile operators to provide Internet access directly via satellite technology — with the same high speed, low latency connectivity from ground, to air and back again. The group hopes the move will significantly reduce costs for everyone involved while creating a smooth, positive user-experience.
The alliance — which aims to attract additional industry operators beyond the five initial members — intends to eliminate the high costs and hurdles commonly associated with acquisition, installation, and operation of data access infrastructure by streamlining system integration and certification, providing open specifications for interoperability, increasing accessibility for passengers, and enabling simple and integrated billing, according to a release the alliance issued.
“With our 5G network rolling out next year we’re investing heavily to make sure our customers have the best mobile Internet experience possible,” said Dow Draper, chief commercial officer of Sprint, which operates in the U.S. Virgin Islands. “As an initial member of the Seamless Alliance, we’re looking forward to enabling customers to experience Sprint’s high-speed connectivity in the air, hassle-free.”
“We know that Delta customers have an expectation that their internet connection just works – no matter where they are in their travel journey” said Gil West, SEVP & COO. “Delta is constantly looking at innovative ways to improve the customer experience. We are excited to be collaborating with other visionary companies, and that our existing partner Gogo will be joining the alliance as Delta develops a system that not only benefits Delta customers, but the entire airline industry.” Delta has weekly flights to the USVI and plans on reinstating its daily New York to St. Thomas route on May 24.
Tags: delta airlines, in-flight internet, on-plane internet, Sprint, us virgin islands, usvi
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