--- title: Starlink wants to disrupt in-flight WiFi - The Hustle description: SpaceX’s satellite internet unit is well-positioned to offer faster speeds and better connectivity. image: https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/505789964-News-Brief_2022-03-22T233014.767Z.webp --- # Starlink wants to disrupt in-flight WiFi ![Rob Litterst](https://thehustle.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Rob-Litterst-pic.png?width=48&height=48&name=Rob-Litterst-pic.png) [Rob Litterst](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/author/rob-litterst) [Rob Litterst Twitter profile ](https://twitter.com/robbylit) Published: March 23, 2022 Updated: October 11, 2023 Elon Musk’s most recent obsession seems to be getting to [Mars](https://www.marca.com/en/lifestyle/us-news/2022/03/19/6236048cca474106568b456d.html). ![Starlink wants to disrupt in-flight WiFi](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hs-fs/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/505789964-News-Brief_2022-03-22T233014.767Z.webp?width=595&height=400&name=505789964-News-Brief_2022-03-22T233014.767Z.webp) So it may surprise you that SpaceX, his rocket company, is working to solve an all-too-familiar problem here on Earth. Per *CNBC*, Starlink, the company’s satellite internet division, is [working on a solution](https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/21/spacex-starlink-vp-aviation-internet-market-ripe-for-overhaul.html) to disrupt the in-flight WiFi industry. #### **The in-flight WiFi market…** … is led by 2 players in the US: - **Viasat**, used by Delta, JetBlue, and Virgin Atlantic - **Gogo (owned by Intelsat)**, used by United Airlines, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines Some airlines use both vendors. The market for in-flight WiFi has massive growth potential. A recent [report](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/08/10/2277944/0/en/Global-In-Flight-Wi-Fi-Market-to-Reach-US-6-7-Billion-by-the-Year-2027.html) valued the sector at $3B in 2020 and predicted it could reach **$6.7B** by 2027. That’s one reason companies have made investments to improve the product. While in-flight WiFi can be powered by towers or satellites, more and more planes have transitioned to the latter, which drastically improves connectivity. #### **Starlink…** … has 2 distinct advantages over competitors: - Its satellites orbit closer to the Earth — giving them closer proximity to planes, which could mean faster WiFi speeds - Its global network of 2k+ satellites may offer more reliable coverage, as the lag users experience is sometimes [caused](https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2019/06/20/why-is-airplane-wifi-still-so-bad/) by moving from one satellite’s coverage to another Starlink is also testing — and going through regulatory hurdles for — an aviation-specific antenna that allows planes to connect to its network. #### **If successful…** … Starlink could become an important player in a growing market and, in a rare instance for the airline industry, a favorable consumer brand. JD Power’s 2019 airline satisfaction study [found](https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2019-north-america-airline-satisfaction-study) in-flight services to be the lowest ranked factor for passengers and poor connectivity is one reason why. While Musk has been [under fire](https://news.sky.com/story/elon-musks-plans-for-life-on-mars-a-dangerous-delusion-12243479) lately for his intergalactic colonization plans, if he can finally solve the in-flight WiFi sh*tshow, all might be forgiven. 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