In a significant leap for in-flight connectivity, Gogo Inc. has officially launched its next-generation 5G air-to-ground (ATG) network following a comprehensive and successful flight testing campaign. The company confirmed the network is ready for service, marking a pivotal milestone for business and commercial aviation across North America.
Flight Tests Validate Network Performance
The Colorado-based company, trading on the NASDAQ as GOGO, completed an extensive validation process involving more than 30 hours of flight time. Test aircraft flew nearly 20 different routes to rigorously assess the network's capabilities across the contiguous United States and Southern Canada.
Results from the trials were compelling. The network consistently delivered download speeds exceeding 80 Mbps and upload speeds over 20 Mbps. This level of performance enables passengers to engage in data-intensive activities like high-definition video streaming and seamless internet browsing simultaneously, a substantial upgrade from previous-generation systems.
Service Rollout and Customer Adoption Begin
With the network meeting all technical benchmarks, Gogo has transitioned from testing to commercial deployment. The company has already onboarded its first paying customer and reports a strong pipeline for immediate adoption.
A significant fleet of 450 aircraft is already pre-provisioned and poised to begin using the new service when it becomes fully operational in January 2026. To facilitate this rapid uptake, Gogo has made substantial progress on necessary regulatory certifications.
33 Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) covering major aircraft types in the region have been contracted. Of these, 28 are completed, with the remaining five expected by year's end. These certifications unlock a potential market of over 7,500 aircraft, indicating significant growth potential beyond the initial customer base.
Leadership Hails a Key Milestone
Gogo CEO Chris Moore celebrated the achievement, acknowledging past challenges while focusing on the future. "We talk a lot about milestones, and this is really an exceptional one for Gogo," stated Moore. He emphasized the team's effort in delivering a "brand-new broadband ATG service" designed to satisfy "data-hungry flyers" accessing streaming and other online services while airborne over North America.
Moore expressed pride in his team's work and confirmed the company is now focused on the immediate rollout of the service to its aviation customers.
Gogo's position as a connectivity provider is unique in the industry. The company is the only multi-orbit, multi-band in-flight connectivity specialist that designs technology specifically for business and military/government aviation. Its solution integrates this new ATG technology with satellite networks to offer consistent, global coverage, supported by round-the-clock customer service.
The launch of this 5G ATG network represents a major infrastructure advancement, setting a new standard for reliable, high-speed internet in the skies above Canada and the United States.
