Gogo (NASDAQ: GOGO), the leading global provider of broadband connectivity products and services for aviation, is announcing K5-Aviation as its first 2Ku business aviation customer in Europe, marking a significant milestone for the company. Gogo’s 2Ku technology is the leading in-flight connectivity technology in commercial aviation and is available to business aviation customers flying larger private aircraft.
“The 2Ku era has begun in business aviation,” said Sergio Aguirre, Gogo Business Aviation’s general manager. “2Ku is a proven technology that delivers an experience unlike any other. This is the first of what we expect to be many more business aviation customers to choose 2Ku for global in-flight connectivity.”
The first airframe in business aviation that will fly with Gogo’s 2Ku technology is an Airbus ACJ319 operated by K5-Aviation, a leading operator of ACJ aircraft, based in Germany. Fokker Services B.V. managed the 2Ku installation design and system integration including the EASA STC. Installation was performed at its facilities in Hoogerheide, The Netherlands.
“This is a great day for K5-Aviation because it brings Gogo’s newest technology to our cabin which means our passengers can stay connected almost anywhere we fly around the globe,” said Luca Madone of K5-Aviation. “Productivity during flight will increase with 2Ku, which will allow our passengers to drive their business forward even when travelling. They will also have the ability to live stream news, entertainment and sporting events.”
“We see it as a great opportunity because we installed and certified the Gogo 2Ku technology in one of our completed Airbus VIP aircraft,” said Johan van Dorst, director of sales for Fokker Services B.V. “Having an EASA STC available for Airbus ACJ’s will greatly enhance our business, as well as Gogo’s.”
Gogo’s 2Ku technology delivers industry-leading performance globally, which means passengers can do the same things they do on the ground. For business aviation, that means live video conferencing, fast Internet browsing and streaming video. 2Ku is designed to take advantage of innovations happening in space and is compatible with newer high-throughput and low-earth orbit satellites when they become available. This means the technology will get better in time without having to touch an aircraft. This flexibility means Gogo’s customers can be confident the system is future ready and ahead of the curve from a technology perspective.
2Ku is a unique dual antenna system developed by Gogo to bring global streaming-capable Internet to large aircraft. The technology benefits from global coverage and the redundancy of more than 180 satellites in the Ku-band.
With more than 170 systems installed today across eight airlines on five continents, and more than 1600 total aircraft awarded to 2Ku across 14 of the largest airlines around the globe, 2Ku is one of the most successful in-flight connectivity products ever developed.
