Gogo Set to Launch ATG-4 Service on Virgin America Flights

By Doug Lung
published


Several websites reported last week that Gogo, the in-flight Internet service using EvDO through terrestrial base stations, has signed a deal with Virgin America to roll out its new ATG-4 service in the first half of 2012. The ATG-4 service uses directional antennas, dual modems, and EvDO Rev B technologies to deliver approximately four times the current performance.

I first wrote about the ATG-4 upgrade this March in Aircell Upgrades Gogo Inflight Wireless Links.

"ATG-4's increased capacity is a perfect solution to meet Virgin America's connectivity needs," said Michael Small, Gogo's President and CEO. "We will continue to develop and offer a suite of technology solutions for our airline partners, recognizing that this isn't a one-size fits all market. Our experience has taught us the important lesson that multiple technologies will need to be deployed over time, and our solutions are built to accommodate changes in technology to meet the needs of every aircraft and mission--whether that's through ATG, ATG-4 or satellite technologies."

Doug Lung
Doug Lung

Doug Lung is one of America's foremost authorities on broadcast RF technology. As vice president of Broadcast Technology for NBCUniversal Local, H. Douglas Lung leads NBC and Telemundo-owned stations’ RF and transmission affairs, including microwave, radars, satellite uplinks, and FCC technical filings. Beginning his career in 1976 at KSCI in Los Angeles, Lung has nearly 50 years of experience in broadcast television engineering. Beginning in 1985, he led the engineering department for what was to become the Telemundo network and station group, assisting in the design, construction and installation of the company’s broadcast and cable facilities. Other projects include work on the launch of Hawaii’s first UHF TV station, the rollout and testing of the ATSC mobile-handheld standard, and software development related to the incentive auction TV spectrum repack.
A longtime columnist for TV Technology, Doug is also a regular contributor to IEEE Broadcast Technology. He is the recipient of the 2023 NAB Television Engineering Award. He also received a Tech Leadership Award from TV Tech publisher Future plc in 2021 and is a member of the IEEE Broadcast Technology Society and the Society of Broadcast Engineers.