Boeing has revealed plans to develop a
space-based global communications network serving airlines and
other mobile platforms. The service is available for installation
on private business jets today and will be available on commercial
aircraft shortly. Initially, Connexion by BoeingTM,
will be available to commercial airline customers operating in
North America. Commercial airline passengers will be able to
access the Internet, e-mail, television, news and information -
for about the same price as cellular phone service. Service later
will be expanded to other regions, over ocean areas and onto other
moving platforms. Other customers include corporate and private
business jets as well as U.S. government platforms. System
installations are expected to begin in late 2001, with operability
expected shortly thereafter.
To provide Connexion by BoeingTM
to airborne travelers, Boeing will use advanced phased-array
antenna technology and existing satellites, extending to a mix of
new and existing satellites as the service matures. Boeing has
applied for L- and Ku- satellite licenses with the US Federal
Communications Commission. The proposed constellations would be
located in 12 hour orbits at ~20200 km (10900 nmi) at 53°
inclination.
In introducing the service, Phil
Condit, Boeing CEO, said, "In commercial air travel today,
you have a few choices - you can read a book or a magazine or
watch one of several movies. But soon, when you can watch a live
soccer match or e-mail family or shop online or keep an eye on
your stocks - the airplane will begin to look like your home or
office and the experience of travel will change."
Boeing has signed memoranda of
agreement with: Mitsubishi Electric Corp., Tokyo; Alenia Spazio, a
Finmeccanica Company, Rome; Loral Skynet® of
Bedminster, N.J.; and Matsushita Avionics Systems Corp., Bothell,
Wash. Boeing is negotiating with prospective airline partners, and
additional content and service suppliers.
While anticipated revenues have not
been announced, analysts project the program's addressable market
to be about $70 billion over the next 10 years. Three million
airline passengers board some 42,300 flights on Boeing-built
planes daily. 
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