Spicejet, AirAsia to soon provide inflight internet access

After TRAI's recommendations to government that inflight internet access should be allowed in Indian airspace, airline operators are keen on providing Wi-Fi and other internet services onboard.

In an interaction at Davos, Ajay Singh of Spicejet and Tony Fernandes of AirAsia spoke positively regarding providing inflight internet services to a leading business channel. While Fernandes was of the view that internet should be free up to a limit, Singh said they are still contemplating on the pricing model.

Private in-flight internet provider Gogo, who is keen to start operations in India, said that airlines decide the prices and they mostly consist of a free and a pay-for component. But the company ensured that inflight internet speed will be similar to ground speed. The airlines need to set up infrastructure including antennae and satellite phones to provide internet and mobile services on-board.

According to TRAI, mobile calling service should be allowed with the minimum height restriction of 3,000 metre in Indian airspace so that it is compatibility with terrestrial mobile networks.