A Japan Airlines (JAL) flight. Photo: Aero Icarus (Flickr)

[Via Satellite 05-11-2016] Gogo and Asian satellite communications provider Sky Perfect JSAT have entered into partnership for increased satellite connectivity over Japan. Gogo will leverage the JCSAT 5A satellite high throughput beam to increase capacity, which ultimately aims to provide better performance for its service to Japan Airlines (JAL). To kick off the new agreement, Gogo will be offering passengers on all JAL domestic flights 15 minutes of free Wi-Fi on each flight.

“Gogo has built its networks to be open, which means we can leverage numerous satellites in the Ku-band around the world,” said Anand Chari, Gogo’s chief technology officer. “By leveraging [Sky Perfect JSAT’s] high capacity JCSAT 5A satellite, we are able to deliver more bandwidth at lower costs to customers like JAL and their passengers.”

The two companies have also partnered to provide satellite communications services over the Pacific region with the new JCSAT 14 satellite, which was successfully launched May 6.