Viasat, a leading satellite communications company, has announced significant enhancements to its Jet ConneX service for business aviation. The improvements include removing speed caps, expanding network capacity, and increasing network prioritization for users. These upgrades come as Viasat’s Jet ConneX service reaches a milestone of being activated on over 5,000 business jets worldwide.
The company has introduced a new program called JetXP, which is currently being trialed by hundreds of existing customers. Early feedback from these trials indicates that users are experiencing more reliable, consistent, and responsive performance for tasks such as bulk file transfers, real-time entertainment streaming, and web browsing.
In developing the JetXP improvements, Viasat sought input from a variety of sources, including customers, partners, and research agencies. The company’s own 2024 business aviation in-flight connectivity survey revealed that reliability, coverage, consistency, value for money, and high-quality customer service are considered more critical factors than raw speed alone.
Kai Tang, who heads Viasat’s Business Aviation division, described the new service as a “turning point” in the industry. He explained that traditional approaches to in-flight connectivity plans, which focused primarily on speed and data allowances, no longer align with market demands. Tang noted that today’s customers understand that speed alone is insufficient to meet their needs, and that beyond a certain bandwidth threshold, higher speeds have minimal impact on the actual passenger experience.
This shift in approach represents a departure from conventional service models in the business aviation connectivity sector. Previously, providers typically used speed and data allowances as the primary criteria for determining service plans, often resulting in complex service level agreements that customers found difficult to assess.
The JetXP program aims to address these issues by providing a more holistic approach to in-flight connectivity. By uncapping speeds and focusing on overall service quality, Viasat is responding to the evolving needs of business aviation customers who require reliable and consistent connectivity for a variety of applications.
The improvements to the Jet ConneX service come at a time when in-flight connectivity is increasingly seen as a critical component of business aviation operations. As more business travelers expect seamless connectivity in the air, similar to what they experience on the ground, providers like Viasat are adapting their offerings to meet these expectations.
Viasat’s decision to remove speed caps is particularly noteworthy, as it allows customers to potentially achieve higher data rates without artificial limitations. This change could be especially beneficial for bandwidth-intensive applications such as video conferencing, large file transfers, and high-quality streaming services.
The expansion of network capacity is another key aspect of the service improvements. By increasing the available bandwidth, Viasat aims to ensure that its network can handle growing demand from business aviation customers without compromising on performance.
The increased network prioritization for Jet ConneX users suggests that Viasat is dedicating more resources to ensure that business aviation traffic receives preferential treatment on its satellite network. This could lead to more consistent performance, even during peak usage times or in areas with high demand.
As the business aviation sector continues to recover and grow following the challenges of recent years, reliable in-flight connectivity has become an increasingly important differentiator for operators. Viasat’s latest enhancements to its Jet ConneX service demonstrate the company’s commitment to meeting the evolving needs of this market segment.
With these improvements, Viasat aims to strengthen its position in the competitive business aviation connectivity market. As more operators and passengers come to expect high-quality, unlimited connectivity in the air, services like JetXP may become increasingly attractive to those seeking a premium in-flight experience.