The first Airbus A330-200 aircraft offering the “Etihad Wi-Fly” technology took off from Brussels, equipped with high-speed broadband Internet connectivity and data and mobile phone services.

“’Etihad Wi-Fly’ is a result of the 10-year, $1 billion agreement we signed with Panasonic Avionics in November 2011…The broadband Internet is high-speed, in line with what our guests would experience at home or at work, so we believe this will be hugely popular,” Etihad Airways President and CEO James Hogan said in a statement. “By the end of Q1 2013, we will have 10 ‘Etihad Wi-Fly’-equipped aircrafts, and I am pleased to announce that by the end of 2014, every single Etihad Airways aircraft will be equipped for inflight connectivity.”

Panasonic’s connectivity solution is offered to guests for $13.95 for one hour or $24.95 for 24 hours, and will be complimentary for Etihad Airways’ Diamond First Class guests. Mobile telephone usage will be charged relative to the international roaming rates of passengers’ mobile network providers.