ViaSat Inc., a global broadband services and technology company, announced
Monday it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) agreement with
Qantas Airways, Australia's largest domestic and international
airline, to bring the fastest and highest-quality in-flight internet
connectivity to Qantas passengers on its domestic flights.
The
agreement is significant to ViaSat, as it represents the broadband
company's first Asia Pacific airline to select its in-flight internet
service, as well as the first airline in the region to choose its
single, hybrid Ku/Ka-band antenna - which will keep Qantas aircraft
connected to the best available satellite network.
The new service expects to feature speeds that are up to 10 times faster than traditional global ground-based in-flight internet services, allowing Qantas customers to stream movies, TV shows, news and live sports.
Under the MOU in-flight internet trials are expected to begin in late 2016, on Qantas Boeing 737 aircraft. A full roll-out across the Qantas domestic fleet of A330s and B737s is planned to begin in 2017.
