Gogo, a US-based inflight connectivity provider serving business, military, and government aircraft worldwide, has completed flight testing and validation of its next-generation air-to-ground (ATG) 5G connectivity network. This advancement paves the way for deploying commercial service across the contiguous US and parts of southern Canada beginning in January 2026.
The test campaign involved over 30 flight hours across 20 routes, verifying network performance and coverage. The results confirmed that Gogo's 5G air-to-ground tower network is ready for commercial deployment, delivering high-speed, low-latency connectivity suitable for business and special-mission aircraft. During testing, download speeds exceeded 80 Mbps and upload speeds surpassed 20 Mbps, enabling onboard streaming and internet browsing.
Gogo has already signed its first paying customer and has approximately 450 aircraft pre-equipped to activate the service early next year. The company anticipates the connected fleet will expand as operators upgrade existing systems and implement the new 5G capability. Regulatory approval has been sought through 33 supplemental type certificates (STCs), with 28 completed and five pending, covering over 7,500 aircraft.
Broader Connectivity Strategy and Industry Implications
The ATG 5G network complements Gogo's broader portfolio, which integrates air-to-ground and satellite-based services across various orbits and frequency bands. It is positioned as a key component of North America's connectivity strategy, especially for operators flying primarily over land, seeking high-performance broadband without relying solely on satellite coverage. The launch responds to increasing passenger expectations for bandwidth-intensive applications like streaming and video conferencing on aircraft.
Chief Executive Chris Moore emphasized that the company has moved beyond initial delays and is now focused on activating the new service. He highlighted efforts to obtain STCs for a wide range of aircraft types to facilitate easy upgrades, thus expanding market reach within the business aviation sector.
