In-flight broadband taking off, may be tested in Canada this summer

About 800 airplanes will offer in-flight broadband by the end of this year, which could generate more than US $47 million worldwide, according to a report by In-Stat. The research, called ‘Delayed Departure: Will In-Flight Broadband Take Off?', predicts the in-flight broadband market is “still emerging” and could grow beyond $1 billion annually by 2012. “The market is clearly gaining momentum, with deployments escalating in number,” said In-Stat analyst Daryl Schoolar, in the press release. “However, in-flight broadband faces challenges, by the struggling economy and competing non-traditional IFE (in-flight entertainment) solutions.” The high tech research firm also said that live...