Chatting with Andrei Nikitin ahead of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum
Russian deputy transport minister reveals timeline for introduction of internet in aircraft
In a recent interview with TASS, Andrei Nikitin, Deputy Head of the Russian Ministry of Transport, shared his thoughts on the future of aviation technology.
"Aircraft are highly complex transportation systems, Nikitin stressed. The certification process for new technologies in aviation typically takes a significant amount of time as it requires strict consideration of safety standards and compatibility with onboard systems. Therefore, it's unlikely that in-flight internet will be introduced before 2027," he said.
Back in 2022, the RosElectronica holding, part of the government corporation Rosetech, developed a system for high-speed internet in aircraft, according to a previous report in "Monokel."
"Antenna systems integrate with onboard multimedia systems, enabling video conference calls (including secure ones), IP telephony, constant high-speed internet connection, satellite television reception, and the exchange of monitoring data necessary for managing and controlling the transportation vehicle," the Rosetech press service explained at the time.
However, the search results do not provide specific details about the expected implementation of this technology by RosElectronica or the exact timeline mentioned by Andrei Nikitin. In the broader scope of aviation connectivity, advancements are ongoing. For instance, companies like SmartSky Networks are working on enhancing inflight connectivity with true high-capacity bandwidth and ultra-low latency [5]. Still, specific timelines related to Andrei Nikitin or RosElectronica's developments require consultation of their direct sources or updates.
"Andrei Nikitin's prediction suggests that the integration of high-speed internet in aircraft by RosElectronica, a government corporation, might not occur before 2027, given the complex certification process in the aviation industry. In the broader finance and technology sectors, other companies like SmartSky Networks are also working on improving inflight connectivity, demonstrating the ongoing advancements in transportation and communication technology."
