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Boeing's Connexion by Boeing (CBB) unit and Singaporean telecommunications operator StarHub have signed an initial agreement to let StarHub users access in-flight Internet services offered by CBB and bill the charges to their StarHub account, the companies say.
The two companies will explore linking their networks and having StarHub become an associate service provider for the CBB service, according to the memorandum of understanding. Users will then be able to access the service using their StarHub identification and password.
In-Flight Pricing
CBB, which is expected to enter commercial service in April with German airline Lufthansa, provides a 20-megabits-per-second broadband satellite Internet connection to equipped aircraft. Around half of the bandwidth is set aside for passenger Internet access.
The service will be sold directly by Boeing to end users with a choice of either flat-rate pricing or metered pricing. Costs will be $19.95 for flights of between 3 and 6 hours and $29.95 for flights of 6 hours or more. Metered rates will be $9.95 for 30 minutes and 20 cents for each subsequent minute.
In addition to Lufthansa, several other airlines have signed agreements to have the system installed. They include Japan's All Nippon Airways, Scandinavian Airline Systems, and Japan Airlines. A number of other airlines have signed letters of intent to use Connexion by Boeing, including British Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Taiwan's China Airlines.
International Partners
StarHub has been aggressively expanding the areas in which its users can access broadband Internet services via roaming agreements.
The company is one of five founders of the Wireless Broadband Alliance, which also includes Korea Telecom, China Netcom Communications Group, Maxis Communications of Malaysia, and Australia's Telstra. Two European carriers, British Telecommunications and T-Mobile International, subsequently joined the group.
StarHub is also a member of a broadband roaming project that is being run by Intel and Singapore's Infocomm Development Authority. The project concerns connection and internetworking between fixed and wireless networks. Other members of the project include Singapore's two other main carriers, MobileOne and Singapore Telecommunications, as well as China Mobile Communications and Pacific Century Cyberworks in Hong Kong.
