Gogo selects Cisco, Airspan Networks and First RF for 5G network

October 23, 2019

Gogo, a supplier of broadband connectivity products and services for aviation, announced partners for the development of its 5G system and network.

Cisco, Airspan Networks, and First RF will provide elements to Gogo’s 5G solution for aviation.

Gogo’s 5G Network

Gogo said its air-to-ground (ATG) 5G network will be designed for use on business aviation aircraft and commercial regional jets operating within United States and Canada. Gogo expects the nationwide network to be available in 2021.

Gogo will build the 5G network on its existing infrastructure of more than 250 towers and will use unlicensed spectrum in the 2.4GHz range, along with a proprietary modem and advanced beamforming technology.

Gogo’s 5G infrastructure will support all spectrum types (licensed, shared, unlicensed) and bands (mid, high, low). Gogo will continue to employ its 3G and 4G networks throughout the continental U.S. and in Canada that will provide backup to the 5G network when needed.

“When we announced we were going to build a 5G network for aviation we stated that we would leverage the expertise of U.S.-based companies to help us bring it to life,” said Sergio Aguirre, president of Gogo Business Aviation.

Cisco

Cisco will provide core network solutions that will power Gogo’s air-to-ground (ATG) 5G network. Cisco was selected for its expertise in providing 4G/5G solutions for some of the world’s largest wireless telecommunications networks.

Airspan

The Gogo 5G system will use the Airspan Air5G product line. The Air5G platform will provide 5G; virtualized-RAN base station technology that uses Massive MIMO antenna arrays for increased capacity.

It also features advanced beamforming and tracking techniques, capable of communicating with an aircraft travelling in excess of 750 miles per hour, at long range, all while providing an enhanced mobile broadband 5G experience.

FIRST RF

FIRST RF will bring its antenna and RF systems technology portfolio to deploy a solution that pairs Gogo’s existing 3G and 4G networks as well as the new 5G network. FIRST RF will provide belly-mounted airborne multi-band antennas that will connect Gogo’s onboard 5G system to the Gogo 5G network on ground.