Sky High Demand For Onboard Wi-Fi

Inmarsat survey hints at Asia demand for onboard Wi-Fi. Unfortunately, the Indian skies don’t allow internet in the skies.

Inflight broadband is changing the airline industry and revolutionising passengers’ expectations of the onboard experience. That is the conclusion from the third annual global Inflight Connectivity Survey, published by Inmarsat, provider of global mobile satellite communications, in association with market research company GfK. Unfortunately in India, the fear of cyber attacks on planes is holding back the government from allowing WiFi on board aircraft. Private players, however, say the security framework sought by authorities is neither impossible nor unusual. Media reports have noted that India was probably the only country besides North Korea, which did not allow internet connectivity on flights.

The survey, conducted with research firm GfK, sought the views of 9,000 airline passengers from 18 countries globally in February 2017. All of them had taken a flight for leisure or business in previous months.