New European Wi-Fi network for airline passengers to launch within months

A new European Wi-Fi network for airline passengers will be launched by the end of June, the companies behind the project said Monday. German telecoms company Deutsche Telekom and communications firm Inmarsat have teamed up to develop the European Aviation Network (EAN). Combining around 300 base stations across each country of the European Union with a satellite, the project aims to provide smooth broadband coverage over land and water and across the 28 countries of the bloc. Until now, European carriers have had to rely on satellite-only systems for on-board Wi-Fi across the region. Deutsche Telekom and Inmarsat also say the EAN equipment is small, lightweight and easy to install, making it suitable for short-haul planes and low-cost carriers. <br/>