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Can SmartSky Deliver on its Lofty High-Speed Connectivity Promise?

We tested SmartSky's 4G LTE network over Florida in a Cessna Citation Excel. SmartSky
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A test flight of SmartSky's 4G LTE network demonstrated impressive high-speed inflight internet, allowing multiple users to simultaneously stream video, make FaceTime calls, and browse the web seamlessly.
  • SmartSky aims to deliver "office-like Internet" in the sky, focusing on robust connectivity, high data rates, and network security, effectively addressing initial skepticism about inflight Wi-Fi performance.
  • The SmartSky 4G LTE network was scheduled for a nationwide launch in mid-2018, promising continuous, uninterrupted connectivity for passengers from ground to air.
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As my flying routine typically involves cramped middle seats on bargain commercial flights, the thought of actual high-speed Internet at cruising altitude is about as realistic as finding the treasure of Oak Island. So, when SmartSky invited me on a recent flight to test its 4G LTE network over Florida, I was skeptical at best that I’d be able to stream a movie or FaceTime my family, as they’d promised me before boarding a Citation Excel at the Satcom Direct hangar in Melbourne.

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