Anticipating that wireless local area network (WLAN) will become the preferred means of connection to public networks for mobile users, Europe’s second largest carrier, Lufthansa, plans to deploy the technology over the next two years on 80 of its aircrafts, plying between the routes of Europe, North America and Asia.
The wireless broadband technology will also help distinguish Lufthansa from its competitors as well as help reduce weight load on its plans as wired connections to each of the seats on a Boeing 747 add hundreds of pounds and lower fuel efficiency.
The carrier will begin testing the technology at the end of November on a Boeing 747-400 jet and will start trials with passengers in January 2003.
Once completed, any traveler with a laptop computer or portable device equipped with a Wide-Fidelity (Wi-Fi) compliant NIC card or enabled with Wi-Fi embedded inside will be able to log onto the wireless network.
For charges, Lufthansa plans to charge by the minute at rates similar to those for cellular phones. As part of the offering, Lufthansa is developing a custom portal to help travelers with news and information.
It will also operate a 10 megabits per second (Mbps) Ethernet wired network onboard for passengers without wireless-capable computers. With 380 seats, a typical Lufthansa 747 has as many network connection sites as a mid-sized company.
In conjunction with Boeing Corp.’s satellite service, and as part of the Cisco Mobile Office program, Lufthansa will obtain help from Cisco and Boeing’s subsidiary, Connexion, in implementing the project.
Connexion will provide the satellite data link from the plane to the ground and is able to offer a broadband feed of five Mbps downstream and 750 kilobits per second (Kbps) upstream. Combined with the Cisco Aironet 350 Series Wi-Fi (IEEE. 802. 11b) compliant WLAN equipment which will deliver up to 11 Mbps speeds within the onboard network, passengers can access the Internet faster than many terrestrial options such as digital subscriber line (DSL) or cable modems.
