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Saturday 15 March 2014

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Skysurf Biography

source(google.com.pk)
US firm Aircell and Canadian company SkySurf plan to offer a "hybrid" air-to-ground (ATG) connectivity solution that will enable commercial airline passengers to seamlessly access airborne Internet whether flying in Canadian or US airspace.

Last year SkySurf acquired at auction the country's ATG spectrum license. Aircell holds the equivalent license in the United States. After lengthy talks, the two firms recently reached an agreement whereby SkySurf will roll out an ATG network in Canada to enable in-flight Internet under the SkySurf banner.

Through a roaming arrangement with Aircell, SkySurf will use the Chicago-headquartered firm's existing ATG network in the United States to provide Internet to Canadian airline passengers flying over the continental United States.

A reciprocal roaming arrangement will allow Aircell to provide its Gogo Internet service to passengers on US commercial aircraft flying over Canada.

Aircell executive vice president and chief marketing officer Ash ElDifrawi tells ATI and Flightglobal that the switchover between SkySurf and Gogo service will be "seamless".

"SkySurf service will be offered in Canada, but when the aircraft fly to the United States, they'll roam into the Gogo service," he says.

Air Canada is already a Gogo customer, offering the service on two aircraft that fly US-bound routes. The carrier has previously said it would ultimately like to offer connectivity across its domestic fleet, although it has not yet publicized an arrangement with SkySurf, which aims to launch service next year.

SkySurf, meanwhile, reportedly intends to use existing mobile cell phone towers to support Wi-Fi connections. "We're starting off with a regional network, over high-density traffic areas, all the way from Windsor to, say, Quebec City," SkySurf president Raed Almasri is quoted as telling Canada's The Globe and Mail. "Then to the next high-traffic area, which is Vancouver-Calgary-Edmonton, and then slowly moving out from there."
Canada clears Wi-Fi in the skies with Gogo, Skysurf plan approval

Canadian air travellers may soon be able to access wireless Internet after federal regulators signed off on a plan by Illinois-based Gogo Inc. to begin offering the service north of the 49th parallel.

Until now, a series of regulatory and infrastructure issues have prevented airlines from offering Internet service in Canada.

Passengers travelling in Canada can soon experience the same technology that has a proven track record of performance and reliability in the U.S.
Gogo, a leading in-flight wireless provider in the U.S., said Tuesday it intends to build infrastructure in Canada to provide air-to-ground connectivity through its partnership with Ottawa’s SkySurf Canada Communications Inc. by the end of 2013.

Whether Canadian carriers will jump aboard its technology remains to be seen.

Gogo has had a limited partnership with Air Canada since 2009 to provide Internet service on two aircraft flying between Canada and California.

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Gogo’s plan is to concentrate initially on existing Canadian routes operated by its U.S. and Canadian partners, including Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and others. Those with knowledge of the situation say Gogo hopes to add Canadian partners, and possibly expand its deal with Air Canada.

“Whether it’s on a commercial or business aircraft, passengers travelling in Canada can soon experience the same technology that has a proven track record of performance and reliability in the U.S.,” said Michael Small, Gogo’s chief executive.

Gogo currently provides Internet access to passengers across the U.S. for a fee, ranging from US$1.95 for 15 minutes to upward of US$20 on cross-country flights.

Typically, wireless Internet signals are either transmitted to aircraft from a satellite or accessed from the plane by connecting to transmitters on cell towers on the ground.

Gogo only offers the latter in the U.S. Foreign ownership limits and other regulatory restrictions have prevented it from doing the same here.

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That hasn’t stopped Gogo from pushing ahead with its plans in Canada, which will come to fruition through its partnership with SkySurf.

In 2009, SkySurf, founded by Ottawa businessman Raed Almasri, bought the rights to provide air-to-ground Internet service in Canada for $2.1-million during the federal government’s spectrum auction. That deal not only provided the groundwork for Gogo’s plans, but has been a windfall for Mr. Almasri and his partners.

Under the terms of their agreement, Gogo has agreed to pay SkySurf $3.3-million for the exclusive rights to use SkySurf’s air-to-ground licenses as a means to get around the foreign ownership restrictions, according to regulatory filings for Gogo’s IPO.

Gogo has also agreed to pay SkySurf $200,000 a month to lease the signals over the course of their 10-year agreement, as well as other monthly payments based on the number of cell sites in Canada and the number of domestic commercial aircraft on which its service is provided, the filings state.

Transport Canada is in the midst of reviewing its policy on the use of personal electronic devices on aircraft, and will base its final decision on the experiences of Air Canada through its partnership with Gogo and the experiences of other U.S. carriers, a spokeswoman said.