Gogo Launching Higher-Speed ATG-4 In-Flight Wi-Fi Service, Virgin America Onboard

Gogo Launching Higher-Speed ATG-4 In-Flight Wi-Fi Service, Virgin America Onboard

Sunday, September 18, 2011 - by Ray Willington
Is Wi-Fi in an airplane more important than leg room, an on-time departure or friendly service? Depends on who you ask, but it's clear that Virgin America places a high value on keeping their patrons connected while cruising the friendly skies. The airline has just announced that they're first to launch Gogo's ATG-4 technology. Gogo's ATG-4 service will significantly enhance the ATG network and improve aircraft WiFi capacity to the plane by approximately four times the current performance through the addition of directional antenna, dual-modem and EV-DO Rev. B technologies.

That's huge news for people who have struggled with Gogo's relatively slow service (it's not ISDN slow, but it's not exactly high-speed DSL). Virgin America was the first carrier to offer fleetwide WiFi as of May 2009 via Aircell's Gogo service, so it makes sense that the partnership would create another "first." Gogo's ATG-4 service on Virgin America is scheduled for delivery on aircraft beginning in the first half of 2012.  The new platform is backwards compatible and allows for upgrades to existing ATG systems through low cost retrofits.


We're hoping that ATG-4 spreads over to the other airlines shortly, and for the airlines still on the outside gazing in, well -- we'll take anything at all in their jets!
Via: PR Newswire | News Archive | Tags: WiFi, Gogo, Aircell, Internet, airline
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By omegadraco on Sep 18, 2011

It's great for this type of technology to be advancing. I have to say that is one fancy looking cabin in the photo on this article. The planes I have been on have not even come close to looking like that LOL. They all look like they are from the 1980s with how much tech is in them.

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By gazd1 on Sep 18, 2011

Does this mean that us jet setting white collar workers will have no rest. It sounds like it to me. So in that case I'd rather have more leg room instead.

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By jonation on Sep 18, 2011

I cant help but think of the louie ck bit about wifi on planes.

How bout any speed for coach?

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By rapid1 on Sep 19, 2011

No joke Omega one of the crazy things is I went out and did a road project last year for a mega company. We had trucks we filled with computers, printers, price guns, scanners etc. The we drove all over ( My specific target are was the SW US from Arkansas to California) and set up new equipment layouts in major retail spaces. When I drove back and turned in my truck I could either buy a plane ticket home or take A Grey hound. I really unluckily decided to be prudent and took the Grey hound. The first bus was as expected, but the second bus was one of there new ones. It looked something like this cabin area, had wifi, peripheral plug ins at every seat, big huge seats with actual leg room. Needless to say I was surprised and although it just takes to dang long to travel this way it was comfortable at least with all the modern conveniences. Not that I would wish Grey hound travel on anyone really, but it is economical I guess, and if your on one of those buses it is much better than expected.

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By blah310 on Sep 22, 2011

Dang, I took a Greyhound  last year and it was one of the old ones that have uncomfortable seating and no trace modern conveniences except for a couple of tiny tvs. I wish I could have went on a nice Greyhound like yours rapid1. Big seats, leg room and wifi? For a low price? I would take that over an older plane any day.

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