When it comes to leveraging wireless technology for its aircraft fleet, Boeing has been having a rough go of it lately.
Last year, the company discontinued its Connexion service, which offered WiFi access to passengers in a number of European and Asian air routes, mainly because it did not deliver an effective return on their investment.
This week, Boeing has decided to put aside its plans to develop a wireless entertainment system for its new 787 Dreamliner jet. The problem is that the equipment weighs about 200 pounds, whereas a similar wired system would weigh only 50 pounds. In addition, there have been concerns about getting approval to access wireless frequencies from the over 100 countries the jet would be flying in and out of, as well as the overall quality of service that could be delivered to passengers.
The Dreamliner is expected to make its first flight by the summer, so there is a possibility that this wireless system could be revisited, but it doesn't seem likely for the near future.
