According to Deutsche Telekom the combination of satellite technology and a sophisticated ground network will “deliver the fastest, best and most consistent in-flight broadband experience that meets the needs of airlines in this region”.
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The companies said the Deutsche Telekom network of 300 LTE sites will have an effective signal-transmission range of 80 kilometers, compared to 10 kilometers or less for conventional LTE sites. “This promising and innovative technology offers potential in terms of costs and can be flexibly adapted to suit the broadband transmission demands of the future”. From 2017 onwards, Lufthansa will commence a flight trial program of the new technology. This means, passengers on Lufthansa’s continental flights and flights within Germany will get net access from next year.
“This bold step will make Deutsche Telekom the first telecommunications operator to take the advantages of LTE technology to the European airspace and fits perfectly into our strategy to become the leading European telco”, said Tim Höttges, CEO of Deutsche Telekom.
It’s not clear how many Lufthansa narrowbodies will have been fitted with GX by the time the hybrid is ready.
Equinet Institutional Services set a €17.00 ($19.10) price target on shares of Deutsche Lufthansa AG (ETR:LHA) stock in a research note issued on Thursday, AnalystRatings.Net reports.
Lufthansa will start offering satellite connectivity on board European flights from 2016 and has committed to test the European Aviation Network in 2017.
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Lufthansa will offer inflight broadband internet on its European flights. FlyNet® has been available on all 106 long-haul aircraft in the Lufthansa fleet since the beginning of this year. The satellite will carry an S-band payload for Inmarsat’s European aeronautical service. Lufthansa Passenger Airlines, SWISS and Austrian Airlines are network carriers serving the global market and all passenger segments. “That’s what they do in everything they do”. The Passenger Airline Group offers its customers route network of 271 destinations in 107 countries. Lufthansa Systems’ BoardConnect wireless IFE solution is already installed on some Lufthansa Airbus narrowbodies.
