Inflight Connectivity: challenges and opportunities in Latin America 

Inflight Connectivity: challenges and opportunities in Latin America 

During the last two decades, satellite technology has evolved rapidly, allowing for newer commercial applications, making end-user (residential) connectivity more affordable, and implementing Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) satellite systems looking to provide fast and reliable accessible broadband connectivity.  

These advancements have meant that earth stations no longer need to be tied to one fixed location. This has resulted in the growth of Earth Stations in Motion (ESIMs), which allow for quick and reliable connectivity even where no terrestrial connectivity is available. 

Inflight connectivity (IFC), which is the providing of internet access to aircraft passengers, generated USD 1.9 billion in 2019, and is estimated to grow to USD 6.1 billion by 2029, with optimistic scenarios projecting the market being worth USD 7.5 billion by 2029.

Despite the prediction in growth for IFC, market access obstacles are still present in several jurisdictions, preventing society from benefitting from ubiquitous connectivity solutions and innovations, and thus blocking economic benefits and growth.

Some Latin American jurisdictions still require foreign-registered aircraft to obtain a domestic licence to operate IFC, even to simply fly over their territory. Examples of such countries include Costa Rica and Columbia. In the majority of Latin American countries, the lack of specific ESIM rules mean that undertakings interested in providing IFC services will be coerced into trying to fit their operations in frameworks designed for technologies from the last century. This will make the procedure both costly and burdensome.

Ultimately, as is often the case, this will result in consumers bearing the cost of the regulatory burdens. Alternatively, IFC as a service may not be available in its entirety. For these reasons, administrations should consider revising their frameworks to make them coherent with the technological advancement and services that could be available and affordable for their citizens. 

Download the report here:

Related Articles

Access Alert: Enhancing Efficiency in India’s Logistics Through AI and Digital Integration

Access Alert: Enhancing Efficiency in India’s Logistics Through AI and Digital Integration

A recent panel discussion at the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2024 on 20 November 2024 focused on the transformative role of...

29 Nov 2024 Opinion
Access Alert: How Will Deepfake Regulations in APAC Impact Your Business?

Access Alert: How Will Deepfake Regulations in APAC Impact Your Business?

The rise of deepfakes – AI-generated content that manipulates audio, video, or images to create realistic but false representations –...

29 Nov 2024 Opinion
Access Partnership Concludes 2024 with Double Recognition: Best Tech Policy Advisory and Innovative Tech Consultancy of the Year

Access Partnership Concludes 2024 with Double Recognition: Best Tech Policy Advisory and Innovative Tech Consultancy of the Year

London, UK – Access Partnership has celebrated the end of 2024 by winning Best Technology Policy Advisory at The Business...

22 Nov 2024 General
Economic Impact Report: Driving digital growth in Vietnam with Google

Economic Impact Report: Driving digital growth in Vietnam with Google

Vietnam’s economic development journey has been impressive. From one of the world’s lowest-income countries, Vietnam has risen to become a...

14 Nov 2024 General