Wed Sep 18 01:52:57 UTC 2024: ## Starlink Poised to Disrupt Airplane Wi-Fi with United Airlines Deal
**Starlink, the satellite internet service from SpaceX, is set to shake up the in-flight Wi-Fi market with its new partnership with United Airlines.** The deal will see Starlink equip the entire United Airlines fleet of over 1,000 aircraft with its internet service, potentially impacting rival provider Viasat.
J.P. Morgan predicts that Viasat could lose up to $80 million in annual revenue as a result of the deal. Starlink’s offering promises significantly faster speeds and lower latency compared to Viasat’s current system.
**Here’s a breakdown of the key differences between the two services:**
* **Starlink:** Offers potential download speeds of 40-220 Mbps per terminal and upload speeds of 8-25 Mbps, with gate-to-gate connectivity. It uses a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation for lower latency.
* **Viasat:** Offers speeds up to 100+ Mbps per aircraft, but its previous generations provided 12-30 Mbps. It relies on a geostationary satellite network, resulting in higher latency.
**While Starlink’s technology offers numerous advantages, it’s still in its rollout phase.** United Airlines will be one of the first major carriers to offer the service, with wider availability expected from 2025 onwards. Viasat, on the other hand, is a more established provider with current availability on many major airlines.
**Starlink’s deal with United also includes free Wi-Fi for passengers, a key differentiator that could attract passengers and significantly increase usage rates.** Currently, in-flight Wi-Fi is often expensive and underutilized, but free service could change the game.
**The aviation industry is eagerly watching to see how Starlink performs in real-world conditions with a large fleet of aircraft.** Experts believe that Starlink’s speed and low latency could revolutionize the passenger experience, enabling live TV, gaming, and video calls during flights.
First Piper 