Tips For Selecting A Bizav Connectivity Provider
VIEWPOINT
James Person
Today’s business aviation operators and owners expect high-speed, quality internet service that provides experiences comparable to those on the ground. That includes media streaming, live, HD video conferencing, downloading large files, email, web browsing, and live inflight TV services.
While many of these services weren’t available only a few years ago, a host of companies now offer reliable business aviation connectivity, delivered by very different methods.
With so many providers, features and package options, how do you choose the best one for your crew and customers’ needs?
Let’s take a look at four areas you’ll likely want to take into consideration as you choose an aviation connectivity partner.
Where Your Aircraft TravelsIf your aircraft only flies over land, there are more options. Air-to-ground (ATG) connectivity, which provides internet services using ground-based towers, requires the aircraft to be in range of a tower. An ATG system works in the continental U.S. and parts of Canada, but not over oceans.
A satellite-based—or Satcom—system connects to the internet by sending data to a satellite, then down to a ground station and back. This kind of connection can provide a much broader, even global, service. Satcom providers include those operating in nongeosynchronous-orbit (NGSO), including low Earth orbit (LEO), and geosynchronous equatorial orbit (GEO).
While NGSOs may offer lower latency than GEO-based services, GEO satellites have the bandwidth and flexibility to provide more capacity in specific regions, typically those that are densely populated or see periodic high demands for bandwidth. That includes busy airports, like New Jersey’s Teterboro. The limited capacity and coverage of each fast-moving NGSO satellite make meeting such spikes in demand a challenge.
A GEO carrier like Viasat, for example, already has some ability to focus bandwidth with its ViaSat-2 satellite, and each satellite in its upcoming ViaSat-3 global constellation is expected to be able to temporarily concentrate capacity at geographic points of demand. That ability will provide a much better connectivity experience. It also provides coverage where 90% of business jets fly, and its upcoming ViaSat-3 global constellation is expected to expand coverage around the world.
Capacity Needs Consider the usage needs and desires of everyone on your aircraft, including your pilot and crew. How much will they be online and for what purposes?
If it’s primarily business passengers, you’ll need a provider and plan that can accommodate multiple connected devices, and support virtual private networks (VPN), document downloads, cloud uploads and high-quality video conferencing.
ATG and GEO-based satellite services can both provide video conferencing. LEO-based services are not yet widely available, and these constellations likely will struggle to meet demand in densely populated areas or during high traffic. The key to a quality video conferencing experience is capacity, which is where GEO satellites have a distinct advantage.
Leisure passengers will likely want to use Zoom or another live video chat service, stream movies and live sports, and access social media—at the level of quality they are used to.
Data usage needs likely will change based on who’s on board. Search for a provider with flexible data plans to accommodate those shifts.
Future-Proofing Online needs and systems are constantly evolving. Passengers, pilots, and crew members likely will increase their use of inflight video tools, virtual/augmented reality systems, and business, collaboration, and productivity applications.
Business jet owners and operators should look ahead to their future connectivity and usage demands, and the ease of upgrading systems to meet them.
Consider also whether your destinations may change in the future. An ATG system may work well today and cost less, but it will lose connectivity only a few miles from shore.
An operator should make sure that a connectivity solution will also work in the future. The Viasat Ka-band solution guarantees business jet owners backward and forward compatibility, ensuring the antenna and in-cabin systems can scale as Viasat launches new satellites.
Installation And Ongoing Costs Installation costs vary widely based on the system chosen and the aircraft in question. Costs include not only money but downtime—for the initial installation and for repairs and upgrades down the road.
Most business aviation operators and owners typically can’t afford to let aircraft sit idle for long. A connectivity solution that can cope with technology changes can help keep costs and downtime to a minimum.
Monthly plan costs also vary widely. Make a list of your connectivity must-haves. Then shop around and compare to find the plan that best suits your needs and finances.
—James Person is Viasat’s senior director of global business development for Business and VVIP aviation.
