In-flight broadband ready for take off

Passengers travelling long-distance with airline Lufthansa will be able to get a wireless broadband connection from next month, when the airline becomes the first to launch a commercial broadband service for passengers.

After testing the system during 2003, Lufthansa is now gearing up for full-scale deployment across its entire fleet of long-haul aircraft.

A Lufthansa spokesman said: "Certainly by next month, we'll have our first broadband-enabled aeroplane officially flying."

"It worked brilliantly when we trialled it last year. Our advantage over other companies who are trialling in-flight internet services is that ours gives a true broadband connection. It's as fast as working in the office," he added.

Lufthansa's in-flight internet service was developed in partnership with Connexion by Boeing.

Users will be able to access the bandwidth with a Wi-Fi-enabled device, or they'll be able to plug into an in-flight network with an Ethernet cable.

It's likely to take until the end of 2005 before all of Lufthansa's 80 long-haul aeroplanes are upgraded to offer in-flight internet access.

As well as letting passengers surf the internet and access their office computer systems, the airline anticipates users will be able to create their own in-flight entertainment by accessing internet radio stations and streamed video.

Several other major airlines are experimenting with in-flight broadband services, including British Airways, Singapore Airways and Japan Airlines. British Airways began offering the service on a trial basis in February 2003 on a flight between London and New York.

Graeme Wearden writes for ZDNet UK