There are two basic problems with in-flight Wi-Fi. If you're flying over an ocean or an area without many cell towers, it doesn't work. And when it does work, it tends to work poorly.
Gogo, the leading provider of connectivity at 30,000 feet—its customers include Delta, American, United, and Virgin Galactic—is at CES this year showing off the technology that could finally fix those problems. Instead of an antenna on the bottom of the plane connecting with towers on the ground, the new 2Ku system connects with satellites in orbit, meaning it can deliver Wi-Fi to those aboard no matter where it's flying. Gogo started offering satellite service back in 2012, and has now updated the technology to use two antennas, mounted on the roof of the plane.
This setup has its disadvantages: The antennas are pretty flat—they look like big plates—but they still make a bump on the roof of the aircraft, hurting aerodynamics and thus increasing fuel costs. They take about two days to install, meaning any plane getting the upgrade has to spend a less than ideal amount of time on the ground. Gogo started delivering the 2Ku system in the second half of 2015, but says that this is the year passengers will start seeing it on their flights.
