Mile - eminent Wi - Fi is taking off .

Southwest Airlines and American Airlines severally announced this week that their planes will be tested for in - flight rider Wi - Fi information accession using different access engineering .

Southwest announced Wednesday that it will test satellite - delivered broadband Internet access on four aircraft this summer , the airline said in astatement .

southwestern passengers with Wi - Fi - enable devices would have Internet access for e - chain armour and Web browse after the tests and subject to approval by the Federal Aviation Administration .

The technology to be used aboard southwesterly planes is fromRow 44 in Westlake Village , Calif. In gain to data , it will endorse mobile phone phone and part - over - IP birdsong .

But “ Southwest has not embraced articulation calling ” because of passengers ’ concern about cell sound calls made during flight , spokeswoman Brandy King said in an consultation . “ Voice is not a counsel we ’re taking . ”

On Tuesday , American Airlinessaidit had finish the first aircraft installation of an net broadband connection aboard a Boeing 767 - 200 aircraft and will install and test the technology on all 15 such aircraft throughout the year . The 767 - 200s are used mainly for transcontinental flights .

Both airline business demand certifications from the FAA before launching an real service . American is using engineering science fromAircellin Itasca , Ill.

Passengers on American aircraft will get full data service , but will not get cell or VoIP service .

Aircell render an aviation - to - land system that uses three lightweight transmitting aerial installed on the outside of the aircraft , one Global Positioning System antenna mounted on top of the plane and the other two on the bottom . Wireless access item are distributed throughout the aircraft interior ’s ceiling . Each American aircraft will be connect to a electronic internet of 92 electric cell towers in the continental U.S. using a 3Mhz sign , the air hose said .

The satellite - delivered system for Southwest ’s planes from Row 44 ask installation of an transmitting aerial atop each plane ’s fuselage that communicates with artificial satellite networks , harmonise to the company ’s vane internet site .

Aircell announced architectural plan in September to equip Virgin America planes with Wi - Fi access this year . JetBlue Airways , Deutsche Lufthansa and Qantas Airways have also herald in - flight Wi - Fi in various forms .