Gogo Advances 5G ATG Network with New Flight Testing
Gogo has begun flight testing its next-generation 5G air-to-ground (ATG) connectivity network, marking a major step toward bringing faster inflight broadband to North American operators. The campaign is being conducted on a Pilatus PC-24 aircraft flying on alternating days, with the goal of completing 40 to 50 hours of test and validation over several weeks. Engineering and software teams are gradually expanding the test scope to confirm the full potential of Gogo’s new 5G ATG system.
Initial flights focus on simple connectivity procedures before progressing to fully loaded scenarios that simulate real customer use. These include simultaneous video calls, streaming, and web browsing across multiple devices. Current flights are connecting to Gogo’s towers in eastern Colorado and Nebraska, with upcoming tests planned around Broomfield, Chicago, New York, Miami, and additional regions. Ground teams monitor each flight in real time, collecting network and hardware data to compare with months of ground test results and performance modeling.
According to Gogo CEO Chris Moore, the phased approach reflects a deliberate, “walk before you run” strategy designed to validate end-to-end connectivity, continuous connections, handovers, and full application performance. The company has already confirmed the functionality of its new 5G chipset on the ground, developed in partnership with Airspan.
Achieving successful inflight performance represents a major milestone for the programme. Once deployed, Gogo’s 5G service is expected to deliver ATG speeds of up to 80 Mbps for business and military aircraft, enabling seamless browsing, streaming, and real-time communications.
After flight testing concludes, Gogo will finalise its 5G AVANCE software and seek FAA approval for minor changes to the AVANCE LX5 and Gogo X3 systems. With approvals in place, the company expects full service activation before the end of 2025, followed by customer activations and revenue generation beginning in Q1 2026. Gogo has already pre-provisioned 400 aircraft for the new service, up from 300 just three months ago.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, aircraftinteriorsinternational.com