It is great that we are able to surf and even blog online. But too bad we need to pay for it, quite expensive when we are using Ringgit Malaysia to pay. I guess is worth it when you have a lot journey and flying just issn’t any fun anymore when the journey is too long and all you can do is just eat, watch and sleep.
How it works:
Boeing uses a two-way satellite link to communicate with a network of ground-based stations. To use the service, you must create a profile for the access point in your computer’s wireless configuration client, and then visit the Connexion Web site to sign in. Connexion costs $30 on most international routes, $20 for flights of less than 6 hours, or $10 for 60 minutes of access, with each minute thereafter costing 25 cents.
[Source]
2 Comments
hmm…Now why is it? Why donâ????t the airlines discourage people from surfing on the Internet?
Because probably surfing on board might give rise to potential harm to the passenger. Laptop usage can potentially surf up to neck problems.
http://www.laptopical.com/16651-laptop-health.html
Secondly, I think it is probably very expensive for airlines to bear all cost. Connection is probably enabled through satellite and should airlines push for the idea of free Wi-Fi, they must virtually reserve the bandwidth for as many passenger seats as it may. Means if there are 1000 seats, it will need to assume that 1000 people might need the bandwidth.
So, over here is probably on-demand basis. Creating the access point for it (not sure what it is), and this could be the signal send to Connexion for bandwidth request. So there is a way for on-demand bandwidth.
Now, why not the airlines sponsor these on-demand bandwidth?
Well, maybe they just want to have higher profit margin. And probably this would allow Connexion to earn more because it is dealing with customer directly, there is no need to provide big discount. If airlines were to pay for these bandwidth, they would probably ask for a long-term discount from Connexion as part of the deal.
Just my evaluation.
I am not sure how much it will cost airlines to use the satelite…they most probably using it to fly and position themselves on the radar and should not cost any extra….US$30 is quite expensive for us Malaysian.
I went overseas quite often, hotels and conference center all charges arround the same amount……they pay for broadband for their administration used ….to get more bandwidth and a few wireless router won’t cost as much.