SmartSky Networks Launches ATG Service for Regional Airlines

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SmartSky Networks has officially entered the commercial in-flight connectivity (IFC) market with the launch of its next generation air-to-ground network for regional aircraft.

SmartSky Networks (SmartSky) has launched commercial operations of its high-performance air-to-ground (ATG) IFC service for regional airlines across the Continental United States (CONUS). 

The company’s ATG network, which uses patented beamforming and spectrum re-use technologies, currently covers 65% of CONUS flight hours. SmartSky expects this figure to rise to 80% by the end of this year and is hoping to achieve full CONUS coverage during the first half of 2022.

SmartSky’s growing network availability can support a range of regional aircraft, with its current supplemental type certificates from the Federal Aviation Administration covering over 4,000 aircraft that are already flying, including Embraer ERJ 135s and ERJ 145s.

The service, which SmartSky claims performs over ten times better than current legacy ATG offerings, is available through a growing network of installation partners and value-added resellers including Honeywell Aerospace and Avionica.

David Helfgott, SmartSky Networks’ CEO. “The need for consistent, secure access to data and applications is constant, especially for regional passengers who are often traveling during the busy work week. As domestic travel returns to pre-COVID-19 levels, those who fly are increasingly frustrated by poor connectivity that is slow, unreliable and not secure.”

“All SmartSky products, systems and solutions have been built with technical integrity and excellence, working closely with the industry to provide the best combination of features and functionality. We are ready to bring these advancements to regional air travelers,” he added.

SmartSky has made a host of announcements regarding its ATG service over the last year. The company first activated its ATG IFC service for business jets and turboprops across a large contiguous portion of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina in June. More recently, it confirmed the selection of CommAgility’s software for use onboard the aircraft.