In-flight internet use may now be available in Canada
August 29, 2012
Canadians will soon have access to wireless internet while they are traveling by plane, thanks to a new plan administered by Illinois-based group, Gogo, which will start to offer the service over Canada, according to the Ottawa Citizen.
Even though Gogo offers its services to many aircrafts in the U.S., only two planes from Air Canada has access to the internet. The main reason for this is due to a series of regulations and infrastructure issues, but that is all about to change. According to the news source, Gogo announced it will provide air-to-ground connectivity as a result of its partnership with Ottawa's SkySurf Canada Communications by the end of 2013.
"This license will allow us to offer seamless connectivity service for both our commercial airline partners and business aviation customers operating between the U.S. and Canada," said Michael Small, Gogo's president and CEO. "Whether it's on a commercial or business aircraft, passengers traveling in Canada can soon experience the same technology that has a proven track record of performance and reliability in the U.S."
However, just because the technology will be available for airlines to use, it does not mean that they will. Gogo is hoping to sign contracts with Air Canada and other Canadian airlines directly. The company already accounts for 84 percent of the internet-enabled airlines in North America, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Those who want to discuss the possibility of using the internet while on board some Canadian airlines can make calls to Canada with calling cards. This way, the caller will not have to break the bank to make the call.