VSAT's �Exede In the Air' to Launch on EL AL Shortly

If you're planning to fly by Israel's national airline - EL AL -from Tel Aviv to Europe in the near future, and you're an inveterate workaholic who stays glued to the Internet -24/7 (almost), then you're in luck. ViaSat (News - Alert) (VSAT) has plans to launch its Exede In The Air in-flight Internet service shortly, ensuring that you continue to work 'in the air' from where you left off 'on the ground.'

'In flight broadband is a rapidly emerging market that we are uniquely positioned to develop in Europe via our KA-SAT high throughput satellite," said Michel de Rosen, chairman and CEO of Eutelsat (News - Alert).

Whether in-flight connectivity is a 'boon or a bane' is anybody's guess, but Elyezer Shkedy, CEO at EL Al, thinks that the installation of high-speed Internet on the flight will earn him more 'customer brownie points.'

One point however is indisputable - that in-flight internet connectivity is indeed a technological revolution, especially 'Exede.'

VSAT's high-capacity Ka-band system has the high-speed in-flight experience to meet high passenger demands for connectivity. In fact, VSAT claims that its 'Excede' lives up to its name by being faster and better than other in-cabin airline services. The VSAT system delivers 12 Mbps to each connected passenger.

These days no one flies without some sort of a mobile device that can connect to the Internet. The habit is so addictive that if the Internet is down for a few hours, hell will break loose. So, with in-flight connectivity and surfing packages (that also includes a free option), passengers can browse their way through the entire flight.

"EL AL passengers who use portable computers, tablets or smartphones will be offered a choice of surfing packages, including a free option, so that during their EL AL flight passengers will be able to remain connected for work or pleasure,' noted Shkedy.

EL AL will not have to worry about managing the complete in-flight Internet service. VSAT has undertaken to take care of everything- ranging from airborne terminals, antennas, and radomes to air time from the Eutelsat KA-SAT high-capacity Ka-band satellite. Of course, bells and whistles will be added when the service is actually launched.

Of course, for the in-flight service to become a reality, the two companies have to work towards certification and installation of the Exede terminals on EL AL aircraft. 

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