AT&T to provide satellites for Connexion by Boeing

Computerworld - AT&T Digital Media Centers yesterday announced that it has signed a contract to provide the satellites and ground-station connections for the Connexion by Boeing in-flight broadband Internet service.
"One of the beauties of our business model is we don't have to own a single satellite," said Connexion spokesman Sean Griffin.
Through the deal, Connexion will have access to AT&T's network of satellites and ground connections above U.S. territories and waters, allowing The Boeing Co. to link its planes to the Internet.
Connexion handles all the servers and processing on board aircraft to deliver Internet and entertainment to displays at each seat.
While German airline Deutsche Lufthansa AG and British Airways PLC have committed to using the service on a limited number of routes from Europe to the U.S., Connexion lost its three major backers last year: AMR Corp.'s American Airlines Inc., Delta Air Lines Inc. and UAL Corp.'s United Air Lines Inc.
Just this week, British Airways announced that it plans to begin a three-month trial of Connexion by Boeing beginning next February. The service will be installed in the airline's First, Club World and World Traveller Plus cabins.
AT&T Digital Media Centers in Englewood, Colo., is a division of AT&T Broadband, which is a business unit of AT&T Corp.
Connexion by Boeing is a division of The Boeing Co. in Chicago.

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