Wi-Fi at altitude is widely available in the United States, on the aircraft of some European companies and continues to gain momentum in other regions. Contrary to established traditions, you get access to the Internet during the flight. Transmitters on the plane communicate with the ground station using radio waves, such as those used by your phone during a call, or via satellite, depending on the supplier. A Wi-Fi point is located in the cockpit of the aircraft, allowing your laptop to connect to the Network via 802.11 wireless protocol at an altitude of 9 thousand kilometers from the ground. Not bad?
Many airlines offer Wi-Fi during home flights, and Internet access is an additional option during the flight for a small fee. Customers can connect to a wireless access point from their laptops or smartphones as if they are in a cafe. Sit down - and not be bored for three or even four hours. Some providers offer unlimited access.
In satellite communication systems, a satellite dish at the top of the aircraft communicates with a satellite in Earth orbit. The satellite also communicates with a ground station, which has direct access to the Internet. When a passenger makes a request from his laptop connected to a flying access point, the aircraft’s electronics transmit the request to the satellite, the satellite to the ground station, the ground station back to the satellite, and the satellite then transmits the data to the aircraft. And your Twitter page is updated or a letter is downloaded. Despite the fact that the signal travels a long distance, the speed reaches 11 Mb / s.
In the case of a ground antenna, the antenna located at the bottom of the aircraft transmits and receives signals from the nearest tower, which communicates with the ground station. The ground station processes the data and sends it to the same cellular tower. The plans of suppliers to build more towers, thereby expanding the area of coverage. You also need to equip these telephone towers with additional technology. And the FCC rules impose their limitations: do not use this network below 3 thousand kilometers, it is intended for use in the air.
Although most providers offer unlimited service and do not block access to pornographic sites or resources of a similar nature, there is an exception: Skype and other VoIP services designed for calls. In order not to disturb other passengers, the system automatically intercepts any packages containing voice recordings. Because of the need to communicate with the tower, ground stations do not work for international flights or flights over large bodies of water, and the service may be slowed down if many people on board use the Network.
In the future, if Google succeeds, all the planes of the world will definitely get Wi-Fi. Yes, and people on earth too. There are other interesting developments.
The article is based on materials .
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