Article from BTNews 30 MAY 2016
Inflight wi-fi boost
Passengers expect broadband services to be offered as standard during flights and more than half prefer in-flight connectivity to in-flight meals, says a new report.
It is based on a survey on inflight connectivity by mobile satellite communications services provider Inmarsat and market research company GfK between last August and March this year.
It polled more than 9,000 passengers in Europe, Asia, Australasia, and Central and South America who had flown in the past year and carried at least one personal device on board the aircraft.
More than 80% said they would choose an airline based on whether they can remain logged-in to social networks, video streaming sites, apps and emails throughout their journeys.
The survey also found most passengers preferred to connect to the internet during their journey over eating, in-flight entertainment or duty-free shopping.
Three-quarters of respondents identified reliability of the connection as their most important consideration, while speed was a priority for just 19%.
The survey summarised that quality is the essential factor for passengers deciding whether to use in-flight broadband, with 60% of passengers less inclined to connect if the service is poor. A reliable service that does not disconnect at regular intervals can expect to be well used.
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