Kazakhstani airlines are preparing to introduce onboard satellite internet. The first aircraft equipped with internet access could enter service by the end of 2026.
The government had previously announced plans to equip aircraft with satellite internet. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was named as the first aircraft to receive the technology.
According to Freedom Cloud CEO Temirlan Zinalabdin, the development of onboard internet had long been hindered by the high cost of equipment and the limitations of satellite communications. The emergence of low-orbit satellite constellations, which provide higher connection speeds and lower latency, changed the situation.
He said that major international airlines are already making internet access part of their standard onboard service. Qatar Airways has completed the installation of Starlink on its Boeing 777 fleet and has begun equipping its Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 aircraft. United Airlines also plans to roll out onboard internet across its entire fleet.
Zinalabdin believes onboard connectivity benefits not only passengers. It also allows airlines to promptly inform customers about connecting flights and delays, while enabling technical data to reach ground crews for aircraft servicing.
However, the project’s economics remain the key issue. Equipping a new aircraft with onboard internet is much easier than retrofitting aircraft already in service with the technology. The expert believes the most likely scenario is a phased rollout of the technology, starting with new long-haul aircraft before expanding to the rest of the fleet.
“In a few years, the question will no longer be, ‘Is there internet onboard?’ Instead, passengers will ask how fast it is, whether it’s included in the ticket price and why a particular airline still can’t provide it,” Zinalabdin said.
