AT&T ditches plans for in-flight 4G LTE connectivity

AT&T announced that it will be abandoning plans to bring in-flight wireless connectivity. The carrier will not be bringing its 4G LTE service to the skies as previously planned through an air-to-ground-based service for domestic flights, citing that in-flight connectivity is too risky of an investment.

In a statement to Runway Girl Network, AT&T said:

As AT&T explores opportunities for future growth and diversification, expanding our international presence has remained an area of interest. On Friday we announced our intent to acquire Mexico wireless company Iusacell. After a thorough review of our investment portfolio, the company decided to no longer pursue entry into the Inflight Connectivity industry. We are focusing our capital on transformative investments, such as international and video.

AT&T rival T-Mobile is offering free limited wireless service through a recent deal with GoGo with free in-flight texting.

Would you want 4G LTE connectivity on your next flight if AT&T had followed through with its plans?

Source: Runway Girl Network

Chuong Nguyen

Chuong's passion for gadgets began with the humble PDA. Since then, he has covered a range of consumer and enterprise devices, raning from smartphones to tablets, laptops to desktops and everything in between for publications like Pocketnow, Digital Trends, Wareable, Paste Magazine, and TechRadar in the past before joining the awesome team at Windows Central. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, when not working, he likes exploring the diverse and eclectic food scene, taking short jaunts to wine country, soaking in the sun along California's coast, consuming news, and finding new hiking trails.