Now you can stream on air as well: Govt allows airlines to provide in-flight Wi-Fi services

Air travellers will soon be able to access broadband internet as the government on Monday amended rules to allow in-flight Wi-Fi services on aircraft.

Last week, the government notified amendments to the Aircraft Rules to permit airlines operating in India to provide in-flight broadband services to passengers on several devices such as laptops, smartphones, tablets, smartwatch, e-readers, points of sale machines in flight mode or aeroplane mode.

The government notification allows only data services while the aircraft is in flight and permits voice calls only after the aircraft has landed and cleared the active runway.

Air Vistara, which unveiled its latest Dreamliner 787-9 aircraft on Monday, is all set to become to the first airline to offer inflight broadband connectivity on both domestic and international routes.

However, the services will come at a cost and Vistara was yet to announce details about the packages it would offer for in-flight connectivity.

Vistara has partnered with Tata Group’s National Radio & Electronics Company (NELCO) and Panasonic Avionics Corporation to offer the Wi-Fi services to Indian passengers.

The airline will be using GSAT-14 satellite of Isro for enabling the
Wi-Fi services during flights.