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Live in-flight TV: Despite challenges, the streaming battle is on

- RASHEED KAPPAN

Catching up with news live, as it happens in the skies, in the skies, is not a flight of fancy anymore in India. But even after Air India made internet surfing possible from January 1 this year, in-flight live TV streaming is still in its infancy with challenges galore. Limited bandwidth, regulatory and licensing issues, high costs and infrastructure have kept the growth subdued as more airlines try getting onto the bandwagon.

The onboard WiFi connectivity now available on Air India’s A350, B787-9, and select A321neo aircraft is currently complimentary on both international and domestic flights. But this could eventually go behind a paywall. Meanwhile, IndiGo is readying for a full launch of its own in-flight connectivity sometime this year on 25 Airbus A321 and two Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The challenge lies in keeping the speeds fast enough to ensure seamless, lag-free connectivity.

LIMITED BANDWIDTH ISSUES

On domestic routes, Indian airlines have to rely on satellite-based systems to ensure internet connectivity. The bandwidth is often limited in remote regions, which makes consistent and high-speed data transfers challenging. Besides, airlines have to deal with the country’s stringent broadcasting regulations for live TV streaming. Navigating the local laws on streamed content and licenses for real-time broadcasts across international airspace could complicate matters even more.

The financial viability of offering WiFi on shorter domestic flights with low airfare margins is another problem. Airlines are reportedly in talks with internet service providers in the sky to work out a model that navigates this issue. IndiGo and other airlines are learnt to be in talks with OneWeb, Starlink and Kuiper, all Low-Earth-Orbit (LEO) players to provide high-speed, uninterrupted in-flight connectivity. Air-to-Ground (ATG) providers such as Intelsat and Inmarsat-Viasat are also being approached.